Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved a N1 billion appreciation fund for teachers in the state and ordered the immediate reinstatement of teachers who were disengaged but have not attained the new retirement age of 65.

Otti gave the directives on Monday in Umuahia while addressing teachers during activities marking the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration.

The governor said the Abia Teachers’ Fund would be shared equally among teachers in the state, regardless of when they joined the teaching service.

He directed the Accountant-General of the state to begin the process of distributing the fund to teachers, describing it as an appreciation of their contribution to the development of Abia.

Otti also ordered the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education to immediately return to service teachers who had previously been disengaged or retired at 60 but were still below 65.

He said the affected teachers should be reinstated even if they had only six months left before reaching the retirement age.

The governor said the directive was consistent with the administration’s earlier decision to extend the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, stressing that government should be consistent with its policies and pronouncements.

Otti further directed the payment of outstanding salaries owed teachers whose wages had been delayed because of verification issues. He also ordered the payment of salaries owed to 4,075 newly recruited teachers who were yet to receive their wages.

According to the governor, the affected teachers should be paid before the end of October.

He also directed the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board to conclude the processing of outstanding promotions for teachers covering 2021 and 2022. The process is to be harmonised with the State Head of Service and forwarded to him for approval, with the governor directing that it be completed before the end of October.

On union dues, Otti ordered the immediate payment of outstanding check-off dues owed teachers and gave the Accountant-General seven days to clear the arrears.

The governor said several of the concerns raised by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers had already been addressed, while others were receiving attention.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, said the 2026 World Teachers’ Day theme, “Standing with Teachers: Protecting the Profession, Advancing Citizens, and Serving Our Teachers,” underscored the important role teachers play in shaping society.

Ubochi highlighted teacher recruitment, professional development, improved school infrastructure, modern learning environments and the development of smart schools among the reforms being implemented by the state government.

The NUT leadership also acknowledged improvements in the education sector, including increased budgetary allocation, mass recruitment of teachers, free and compulsory basic education and the extension of the teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65.

Otti said the government’s investment in smart schools across Abia’s 17 local government areas was intended to prepare pupils for the future without replacing conventional schools.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to free and compulsory education and congratulated Abia pupils who performed strongly at an international schools debate championship in Qatar and in the National Examinations Council examinations.