Akwa Ibom approves N50,000 ‘wardrobe allowance’ for 20,000 teachers

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has approved N50,000 wardrobe allowance for each of the 20,000 teachers employed by the state government.

Mr Eno stated this on Monday during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Uyo.

He said teachers must continue to appear neat and smart to inspire confidence among pupils and students in their various classrooms.

“I have approved another N50,000 per teacher as wardrobe allowance for all the 20,000 teachers employed by the Akwa Ibom Government.

“I have been briefed that there are 1,776 registered private schools. For each of those schools, they will receive the sum of N500,000 so that they can also spread love to their teachers,” Mr Eno said.

The governor expressed delight over the indelible contributions of resourceful teachers in the state, saying their efforts aligned with the administration’s ARISE agenda.

He described teachers as agents of change, wondering what the world would have become without them.

“A governor who leads a state like my humble self is leading well because a teacher once instilled the discipline and knowledge which we are now applying in leading the people.

“The same goes for the brilliant scientists, doctors and other professionals who help keep the chain of excellence moving smoothly. They were all taught by teachers,” he also said.

Mr Eno thanked the teachers for “endorsing” his candidacy, as well as that of President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio, for a second term in office come 2027.

“Together we will continue to deepen the depth of knowledge you instill in our children, the competitive spirit and the spirit of excellence.

“The trite saying has been that ‘teachers’ rewards are in heaven. No! Teachers’ rewards are here!

“Our belief and conviction is that your reward begins here on earth, and we have taken concrete steps to actualise those rewards,” Mr Eno said.

He said his administration had built and furnished 38 model primary schools, with at least one in each local government area of the state.

According to him, the state government have released N15 billion as a matching grant, and SUBEB has intervened in over 100 schools.

The governor also said that the administration had upheld free and compulsory education, including the payment of WAEC and NECO fees for 172,000 students from the state.

“We have approved the recruitment of 1,000 teachers before, and I have granted approval for another 2,000,” he added.

The governor advised qualified teachers to apply for the vacancies, take the Computer-Based Test and follow due process to be employed in line with civil service rules.

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Ubong Umoh, the commissioner for education, commended Governor Eno for transforming the school system through the construction of model primary schools.

“You are a leader who is leading progressively through continuity to ensure that there is a transformation in education in Akwa Ibom.

“You have already made a long stride towards the freedom of teachers, the teaching profession and the educational system. We are proud of you,” Mr Umoh, a professor, said.

Edet Emenyi, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Akwa Ibom Wing, thanked the governor for his interest in the welfare of teachers.

“Since I took office seven years ago, you are the first governor to personally come and honour the teachers in the state.

“In view of your friendly disposition towards teachers, we are endorsing you for a second term in office in the 2027 general elections,” Mr Emenyi said.

The NUT chairman appealed to the governor to do more for teachers in his second tenure and assured him of their continued support.

Akwa Ibom was in the spotlight recently following the poor performance of its students in public examinations. The state’s performance in 2026 NECO examination plunged from 12th nationally in 2025 to 36th, raising fresh questions about the implementation of its decade-long education roadmap, teacher interventions and spending priorities.