Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has unveiled a fresh package of incentives and reforms aimed at improving the welfare of teachers in the state. The incentives include a N50,000 wardrobe allowance for each of the 20,000 teachers in the state. This move is part of the governor's efforts to reward teachers, improve their welfare, and strengthen the education system in Akwa Ibom State.
In addition to the wardrobe allowance, Governor Eno has also approved the recruitment of an additional 2,000 teachers to boost the state's education sector. He has directed the constitution of an emergency education committee to undertake holistic reforms in the sector, with a focus on retraining teachers. The governor has also mandated the Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government to work out measures aimed at raising the standard of education across the state.
Governor Eno made the announcements on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the 2026 World Teachers' Day celebration organised by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Akwa Ibom State Wing. The theme of the celebration was "Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping Our Futures." The governor emphasized that his administration believes that "teachers' rewards begin here on earth."
Education is a major pillar of Governor Eno's administration's governance blueprint, represented by the letter "E" in the ARISE Agenda. Since May 29, 2023, his government has renewed attention to basic and post-basic pre-tertiary education. The governor highlighted that his administration has constructed and furnished 38 model primary schools, at least one in each local government area, with facilities including solar power, ICT centres, sick bays, libraries, assembly halls, and teachers' residences.
The governor also disclosed that the state has consistently met its counterpart funding obligations to the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, with over N15 billion committed as counterpart funding. SUBEB interventions have reached more than 100 schools in the state. Additionally, the government has sustained the free and compulsory education policy and consistently paid WAEC and NECO examination fees for Akwa Ibom indigenes, with 172,000 candidates registered for examinations.
Governor Eno announced that the recently passed law transforming the Akwa Ibom State College of Education into the Akwa Ibom State University of Education would soon become operational. Professor Philip Afaha has been appointed Vice-Chancellor to commence the accreditation processes, while other members of the governing board would be announced before the end of the week. The governor assured teachers across the tertiary, secondary, primary, nursery, and private-school sectors of continued government support.
Furthermore, Governor Eno announced a N500,000 intervention for each of the 1,776 registered private schools in the state to enable them to extend the gesture to their teachers. He directed an inter-ministerial committee to take over the construction of teachers' House along IBB Avenue and ensure its completion within six months. The governor's initiatives aim to improve the overall well-being of teachers and enhance the quality of education in Akwa Ibom State.
Key points
- Governor Eno approves N50,000 wardrobe allowance for 20,000 teachers in Akwa Ibom State.
- The governor also approves recruitment of 2,000 new teachers and completion of teachers' House within six months.
- The initiatives are part of the governor's efforts to improve teachers' welfare and strengthen the education system in the state.
