Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has announced that his administration is finalizing plans to begin the payment of the new minimum wage by the end of this month.
Governor Otti made this known during the 2024 World Teachers’ Day celebration, themed: “Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards A New Social Contract For Education”.
Governor Otti emphasized that the new minimum wage is in addition to the N15,000 wage award that has been paid to Abia civil servants over the past three months.
He further reiterated his administration’s commitment to enhancing the education sector, noting that his administration declared a state of emergency in the sector and introduced new incentives including the extension of the retirement age of teachers to 65 years and period to 40 years service.
Governor Otti said his government in addition eradicated discriminatory practices in salary payments and pledged that the regular payment of workers’ entitlements would remain a top priority.
As part of his administration’s efforts to make teaching more attractive, Governor Otti disclosed that 2,000 primary school teachers have already been retrained, with secondary school teachers set to commence retraining by November.
He also announced that by the end of the year, 100 newly retrofitted public schools would be ready for use across the state and added that he has directed the Office of Homeland Security to provide adequate security in public schools, and ensure the safety of students, teachers, and school facilities.
Governor Otti reiterated his commitment to creating an ecosystem conducive for teaching and learning and revealed plans to improve the student-teacher ratio by recruiting more teachers in schools across the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion and Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, commended Governor Otti’s commitment to teachers’ welfare and highlighted the Governor’s ongoing capacity-building programs and infrastructural developments across public schools.
Ubochi urged teachers to reciprocate the Governor’s efforts by demonstrating dedication and responsibility, stating that the era of truancy among teachers is over.
In his speech, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Madu Chukwujekwu said the theme of this year’s event “Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards a New Social Contract For Education” recognizes the critical role teachers play in the future of education, adding that government needs to empower teachers to take ownership of their profession, to share their expertise, and to drive innovation in education.
Comrade Chukwujekwu used the occasion to list some achievements made in education sector by the present administration to include; approval and full implementation of 65 years of age and 40 years of service through harmonized teachers retirement Act 2022, regular and prompt payment of monthly salaries to Teachers and all civil servants in the state among others.
He called on the government to address the shortage of teachers by filling vacancies in public schools and lauded the present administration for its ICT training programs and the resucitation of scholarship schemes where over 5,000 students recently benefitted.
Highlight of the event was the appreciation of the first three best Head teachers in early school resumption for the 2024/2025 academic session by the Executive Chairman Abia State Universal Education Board (ASUBEB) Mrs Lydia Onuoha.
