From TCNEWS
The Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) has inaugurated a high-level committee to review the deployment of 5,300 newly recruited teachers across the state, in a move aimed at promoting fairness, reducing hardship, and safeguarding family cohesion among educators.
Announcing the development on Wednesday in Umuahia during a stakeholders’ engagement, the Executive Chairman of ASUBEB, Lady Lydia Onuoha, emphasized that the review would prioritize proximity and welfare, particularly for the over 80% of new recruits who are married women. The newly recruited teachers are expected to resume duty on September 1, 2025.
“We are working to ensure that teachers are posted to schools close to where they live. A significant number of them are married, and separating them from their families would be counterproductive,” Lady Onuoha stated.
She added that the posting review committee will collaborate with education stakeholders to ensure a transparent and harmonious deployment process. In the spirit of inclusivity, a helpline has also been activated for affected teachers to lodge their concerns or appeal their initial postings.
The Chairman assured that Governor Alex Otti has endorsed special provisions, including incentives for teachers posted to hard-to-reach rural areas, underscoring the state government’s commitment to educational development and staff welfare.
In areas where no applications were received during the recruitment process, the committee would make special posting considerations to ensure no school is left without qualified teaching staff.
On school infrastructure and safety, Dr. Onuoha disclosed that the governor has also approved the recruitment of security personnel to safeguard school premises, with local government mayors actively involved in the process.
Also speaking at the meeting, Dr. (Mrs.) Uzoamaka Amah-Mbah, Secretary of ASUBEB and Chairperson of the Recruitment Committee, lauded the integrity of the recruitment process, noting that no payments or inducements were solicited from applicants.
“The process was transparent and merit-based. We ensured that the best candidates were selected without any form of financial or political influence,” she said.
The event reflects Abia State’s progressive approach to education management, emphasizing human-centered policies and community-based governance. By addressing teacher welfare and deploying staff equitably, the initiative not only boosts morale among educators but also aims to improve learning outcomes across the state, especially in under-resourced areas.
This policy direction could serve as a model for other Nigerian states, promoting educational equity and strengthening public trust in state-led recruitment processes.
Representatives from the 17 Local Government Areas, including education secretaries, local government chairpersons, and leaders from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), were present at the meeting.
Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, and Kenechukwu Nwosu, Senior Special Adviser on Basic and Secondary Education, reiterated Governor Otti’s commitment to teacher welfare, education reform, and quality learning outcomes in the state.
