Alex Otti Approves ₦1 Billion Teachers’ Fund, Orders Return of Sacked Teachers Under 65

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved a ₦1 billion Teachers’ Appreciation Fund and ordered the immediate re-engagement of teachers who were disengaged or retired at 60 but have not yet attained the state’s new retirement age of 65.

Otti announced the measures on Monday in Umuahia during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration, where he also directed the payment of outstanding salaries and other financial obligations owed to teachers across the state.

Alex Otti Approves ₦1 Billion Teachers’ Appreciation Fund

Governor Alex Otti said the ₦1 billion fund would be distributed equally among teachers in Abia State, regardless of when they joined the teaching service. He directed the state Accountant-General to begin arrangements for the distribution of the fund.

The governor also ordered the payment of salaries withheld because of verification issues by the end of October. In addition, he directed that the salaries of 4,075 newly recruited teachers who had yet to receive their wages should be paid before the end of the month.

Alex Otti Orders Return of Teachers Below 65

Otti also directed the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education to immediately return to service teachers who had been disengaged but are below 65 years old. The directive follows the state’s earlier decision to extend the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65.

The governor said the affected teachers should be brought back even if they have only a few months remaining before reaching the new retirement age. The Nigeria Union of Teachers had raised the issue during the celebration, alongside other welfare concerns.

Promotion Arrears and Other Teacher Welfare Issues

Beyond the reinstatement order, Otti directed the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board to complete the processing of teachers’ outstanding 2021 and 2022 promotions. The process is to be harmonised with the State Head of Service and concluded before the end of October.

The governor also ordered the payment of outstanding check-off dues owed to teachers within seven days. Abia’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, said the state’s education reforms include teacher recruitment, professional development, improved infrastructure and the development of smart schools.

The Abia State Government has previously said it has maintained a significant focus on education, including allocating 20 percent of the state’s annual budget to the sector and expanding teacher recruitment and training.

For OGM News NG, the latest measures put teachers’ welfare at the centre of Abia State’s education agenda, with the implementation of the ₦1 billion fund, salary payments and re-engagement directive now set to determine how quickly the announced relief reaches affected teachers.