Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has declared a state of emergency on education in the state, approving a N2.1 billion welfare package for public school teachers and financial support for registered private schools.

Eno made the declaration during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration held at the Uyo Township Stadium, saying,under the new intervention, teachers are entitled to N50,000 wardrobe allowance and N10,000 transport allowance for each of the 21,167 public school teachers across the State.

He also approved a N500,000 support grant for each of the 1,776 registered private schools in the state, and approved the recruitment of 2,000 additional teachers into the state civil service, saying the portal would be opened soon.

He urged qualified Akwa Ibom indigenes to take advantage of the opportunity when the process begins, adding that as part of the emergency measures, Education Emergency Committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, with Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, and other members will be constituted.

Explaining further, he said, the committee is expected to undertake a comprehensive turnaround of the state’s education sector by identifying and addressing critical gaps and repositioning the system to meet the objectives of the administration’s ARISE Agenda.

On teachers’ welfare, Governor Eno debunked the traditional adage, teachers’ rewards are only received in heaven, stressing that they deserve to benefit from their service while still alive.

“ My belief is that your reward begins here. We’ll construct 38 model primary schools across the 31 local government areas, payment of WAEC and NABTEB fees for secondary school students and the clearance of outstanding contributory pension obligations.”

He hinted that about N2.4 billion in outstanding teachers’ gratuities had also been paid, stressing that teachers’ welfare remained a major component of his administration’s investment in education.

Governor Eno also stated that the Akwa Ibom State College of Education into the University of Education, following the passage of the enabling law by the State House of Assembly,announcing Professor Philip Afaha as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the newly established university.

He therefore reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in education, describing the sector as a long-term investment in the future of Akwa Ibom rather than an avenue for political competition.

Also,the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, commended the Governor for what he described as significant interventions in the education sector, particularly measures aimed at improving teachers’ welfare and creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Edet Emenyi, also expressed the union’s support for the administration, citing its interventions in the education sector and attention to teachers’ welfare.

Similarly, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Sunny James, commended the administration for addressing outstanding teachers’ gratuities.