Akwa Ibom Approves ₦50,000 Wardrobe Allowance For 20,000 Teachers, Recruits 2,000 More
By JULIET EKANEM
Government Launches Education Emergency
AKWA Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has declared a state of emergency in the education sector and approved a ₦50,000 wardrobe allowance for each of the state’s 20,000 government-employed teachers.
Eno announced the measures on Monday during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Uyo.
The governor also approved the recruitment of another 2,000 teachers and ordered the completion of the Teachers House Secretariat within six months.
Additionally, he approved ₦500,000 grants for each of the 1,776 registered private schools in the state to support their teachers.
Reform Committee to Review Education Sector
The governor said Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, a teacher, would coordinate the education emergency alongside the Commissioner for Education.
The team will conduct a comprehensive review of the sector and develop a reform plan.
According to Eno, the review will examine gaps in the education system while identifying areas for expansion and innovation.
He also said the state would promote more innovation schools at the secondary and tertiary levels and accelerate digitalisation across the education system.
Teachers Face Greater Accountability
While announcing improved welfare measures, Eno also demanded stronger accountability from teachers.
He said teachers must attend classes regularly, remain committed to their duties and participate in continuous training and retraining.
“I want our teachers to be held accountable in teaching our students,” he said, stressing that improved welfare must be matched by improved performance.
The governor said the ultimate test of the education emergency would be measurable improvements in students’ academic performance, particularly in external examinations.
₦15bn SUBEB Grant Supports School Projects
Eno also disclosed that the state had released ₦15 billion as its matching grant to the State Universal Basic Education Board.
According to him, the funding has supported interventions in more than 100 schools.
The government has also built and furnished 38 model primary schools, with at least one located in each local government area.
The facilities include solar power, ICT infrastructure, teachers’ residences, sick bays, libraries, games areas and assembly halls.
Meanwhile, the state continues to implement free and compulsory education and pay WAEC and NECO examination fees for eligible students.
Eno said 172,000 Akwa Ibom students had so far been registered for the examinations through the government’s education support programme.
Teacher Welfare Gets Additional Attention
The governor also disclosed that his administration had cleared more than ₦2 billion in inherited 7.5 per cent contributory pension obligations owed to teachers.
Beyond pension liabilities, the new wardrobe allowance is intended to support teachers’ professional appearance and confidence in the classroom.
Each of the 20,000 state-employed teachers will receive ₦50,000.
Furthermore, the ₦500,000 grant approved for each registered private school will support similar assistance for teachers in those institutions.
College of Education Gets University Status
Another major announcement was the transformation of the Akwa Ibom College of Education into the Akwa Ibom University of Education.
Eno said the enabling legislation had been passed and signed.
He named Professor Philip Afaha as the institution’s Vice Chancellor to lead the accreditation process.
The development is expected to expand the state’s tertiary education structure and strengthen teacher education.
More Teachers to Be Recruited
The governor also approved another 2,000 teaching positions, following an earlier approval for 1,000 recruits.
However, he warned applicants that passing the Computer-Based Test would not automatically guarantee employment.
Candidates would still have to pass interviews and satisfy other civil service requirements.
Teachers House Gets Six-Month Deadline
Responding to a request from the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Eno directed an Inter-Ministerial Committee to take over the Teachers House project and complete it within six months.
He described teachers as agents of change and promised continued investment in their welfare, professional development and teaching tools.
According to the governor, the education emergency is intended to move beyond announcements and produce concrete reforms and better learning outcomes for children across Akwa Ibom.
