No Need For Strike, Says Abia Government As It Warns Opposition Against Fake News

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The Abia State Government has dismissed reports of an impending strike by teachers, assuring that issues concerning their remuneration are being addressed proactively.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made this known during a press briefing at Government House, Umuahia, following the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

According to him, while a section of teachers have raised concerns about salary disparities—particularly between primary school teachers and their junior secondary school counterparts—the issue is already under review. He confirmed that the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, is currently meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to resolve the matter.

“Yes, there are concerns, but they are being handled. It is unfortunate that some opposition elements are blowing the situation out of proportion through misinformation and fake news,” Prince Kanu stated.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to staff welfare, noting that Abia is among the first states to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage and is consistently paying salaries and pensions.

As part of its broader teacher-support strategy, the government has introduced key incentives, including:

Special compensation packages for teachers who returned to classrooms after fleeing to the civil service due to salary arrears under the previous administration.

An increased retirement age from 60 to 65 years to retain experienced educators.

Training and upskilling programmes, with over 2,300 teachers recently trained under Phase Two of a 21st-century competency-based programme.

“These are deliberate policies aimed at motivating teachers and revamping the education sector,” Kanu added.

He also issued a strong warning to political opponents whom he accused of spreading false and malicious information on social media, aimed at undermining the Governor’s image and policies.

“They’ve gone as far as attributing statements to the Governor that he never made—statements that could even cause ethnic tension or federal misunderstanding. We remind them that the Cybercrime Act exists and may be invoked if these excesses continue,” he said.

Prince Kanu reaffirmed the administration’s openness to constructive criticism but condemned the deliberate spread of misinformation.

“At the beginning of this administration, Governor Otti promised hope and help. In 23 months, he has delivered more than that—he has set a new standard for governance. The opposition is bitter because in 24 years, they couldn’t achieve what has been done in under two,” he stated.

Providing updates across sectors, the Commissioner highlighted recent achievements, including:

Accreditation of programmes at the Abia State College

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