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Rivers Budgets N1bn Monthly For 13,000 New Teachers …Moves To Tackle Impending Floods
The Rivers State Government is to spend N1billion monthly as salaries for the newly recruited 13,000 teachers.
The 13,000 teachers made up of both indigenes and non-indigenes were presented with their appointment letters last week Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
The state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi said that the teachers appointment was part of the moves by the present administration to ensure quality education in the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dame Alice Lawrence- Nemi while playing host to a delegation from UNESCO, commended the governor for giving much attention to the educational development of the state.
She said that UNESCO would assist the government to undertake an assessment of the number of children that are out of school.
“Not that the Ministry of Education did not know the figures but we want professionals to make their assessment and tell us particularly, how Nigerians are jittery that about 10.5million children are out of school.
“And at the same time, every state is fighting hard to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), she said.
Dame Nemi also said that induction course shall commence for the newly recruited teachers pointing out that they shall be sent to the classrooms for training and would be deployed by September, to both junior and senior secondary schools.
She urged the new teachers to be committed to their assignment and professional calling towards ensuring quality education in the state.
The commissioner said that the 13,000 teachers will reduce the burden of teachers in several subjects at a time when in actual sense, they were meant to teach only one subject each.
She also revealed that 90% of those recruited were indigenes while 10% were non indigenes.
The commissioner also said that 9,000 of the existing teachers have been retrained in a special programme with the British council.
Meanwhile, The flood enlightenment campaign organized by the Rivers State Government has ended with a call for
people living in the five flood prone local government areas of the state to make preparations and
identify higher grounds in their communities for easy evacuation following the2013 imminent flood
prediction by the National Metrological Agency (NIMET) and National Emergency Management
Agency(NEMA).
Addressing participants at the sensitization in Abua/Odual and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni council secretariats special Duties Commissioner, Barrister Dickson Umunakwe explained that their preparations will help cushion the effects associated with flooding.
He identified clogging of drainages with refuse, building over drainages and erecting structures along shorelines as the major causes of flooding, noting that these factors hinder the smooth flow of water and warned against such practice.
Determined to forestall loss of lives from last year’s flood, the Special Duties boss said the state government will deploy six flying boats each, in the five prone LGAs of the state for easier evacuation and a marine ambulance stationed at the Orashi River in Ahoada West Local Government for first hand medicare.
“We will also partner with the lining ministers including power, water, health, environment, housing who will provide the needed facilities to cater for the imminent need of the flood victims at the camps.
On the issues raised during the interactive session on dredging of the River Niger, which the participants say, will help stop floods once there is an overflow of water from the dams, the commissioner said such projects are capital intensive, which the state budget cannot hand, and called on the federal government to come to their aid.
Also speaking, the South-South coordinator of NEMA, Mr Emenike Umesi represented by the Desk Officer, Mr Denis Egwu called for government -community synergy to enhance emergency operations and appealed to the indigenes of the areas to harvest their corps early before the flood steps in.
In another development, the Rivers State Government says that the era of haphazard and unco-ordinated projects in the state is over.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who said this during the launching of the state partners for sustainable Development (RSPSD) on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, said that the initiative would provide the platform for a coordinated and integrated infrastructural development across the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Dickkson Umunakwe, also restated the commitment of the government to use the state resources to improve its condition.
He said that the government expects the various partners in the developmental initiative to work together for the common good of the state and its citizens.
The Regional Director, United Nations in Nigeria, Mr Dauda Toure, described the launching as a bold attempt by the Rivers State Government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mr Toure, who was represented by the coordinator United Nations Institute for training and Research (UNITARE), South-South, Dr Larry Boms, said that the organization will continue to work with state government s to achieve MDGs but noted that the United Nations was already looking at post-MDGs era.
He also stressed the need for a new spirit of solidarity and mutual accountability among development partners and solicited government cooperation with international agencies to enhance development.
Chairman of the state Economic Advisory Council, Prof Nimi Briggs described the programme as timely as it would ensure that the resources of the state were used to improve the welfare of ordinary people.
According to him, it is something that should be welcome by all concerned.
Earlier, the executive director of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Mr Noble Pepple, said that the state partners for sustainable development which is a brainchild of the RSSDA, is a platform to ensure coordinated development in the state.
Mr Pepple, who described the initiative as one of the mandates of the agency to promote sustainable development in the state, however, said that the RSPSD is owned by all the partners.
The Federal Government has honoured 12 teachers from across the country with national awards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved welfare, incentives, and professional development for teachers.
The awards were presented yesterday at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026, held in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the government would sustain reforms aimed at empowering teachers and restoring dignity to the profession.
Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both the basic and senior secondary school levels.
From the pool of nominees, 12 teachers; six from basic education and six from senior secondary education, emerged as national award recipients.
Each of the 12 awardees received a cheque of N25m.
The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional N25m, bringing his total prize to N50m.
In addition to the cash prize, Taiwo is to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, as well as a fully furnished two-bedroom flat from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
Also, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, pledged to give each of the award winners an additional N5 million.
The minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, noting that they represent the best of the teaching profession in the country.
“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking at the summit themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,’ the minister said the recognition of the teachers reflected the FG’s broader education reform agenda under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.
“No reform, no matter how well designed, can succeed unless teachers are empowered, motivated, supported, and respected,” Alausa said.
He pledged that the government would continue to invest in teachers through structured training, improved career pathways and fair rewards, noting that education remained central to national development.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, “sustainable development, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion depend on a strong and responsive education system and that system depends on teachers.”
As part of this commitment, the minister announced the launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development programme designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes.
While the programme is open to teachers in both public and private schools, Alausa said performance-based incentives would be reserved for public school teachers who complete certified training.
“Professional growth must never be restricted. Every teacher deserves access to quality training, modern tools, and updated skills,” he said, adding that incentives would be tied to measurable performance.
He also highlighted complementary initiatives, including the Ignite digital platform to reduce teacher workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the provision of 60,000 tablets for teachers with zero-data access to approved training platforms.
The minister further announced reforms to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, the expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professionalisation for in-service teachers.
To provide long-term stability, he said the government had introduced a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards nationwide.
Addressing the award recipients and other educators at the summit, Alausa described the government’s message as “professional growth, dignity in service, and renewed hope,” urging stakeholders to focus on tangible outcomes in classrooms across the country.
In her welcoming remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, underscored the central role of teachers in Nigeria’s education reform agenda.
Ahmad said the gathering was both timely and strategic, noting that the quality of any education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.
She explained that the theme aligns directly with Nigeria’s current education priorities.
According to her, investing in teachers is the bedrock of sustainable reform and national development.
“Empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention; it is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built.
“When teachers are supported, trained, motivated, and valued, the entire system is strengthened, learning outcomes improved, equity expands, and national development is accelerated,” she said.
Describing the summit as a strategic national platform, Ahmad said it was designed to unite key stakeholders to address challenges in the education sector and advance practical reforms.
She noted that the forum brings together teachers, policymakers, education leaders, regulators, unions, development partners and private sector actors to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
In his goodwill message, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a historic milestone in the recognition of teachers’ roles in national development.
Nigeria’s education sector has continued to grapple with longstanding challenges, particularly around teacher welfare, access to regular professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure.
These issues have raised concerns among stakeholders about the quality of teaching and learning in many public schools. At the same time, industrial actions by education unions in recent years have further highlighted the pressures facing educators nationwide.
The Rivers State Government has declared that it draws its confidence from the assurance that God is more than sufficient to guide its leaders, strengthen its institutions, and sustain its communities in peace and progress.
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?Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made this declaration during the 2026 Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Sunday.
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?Speaking through his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, the governor stated that “with the Almighty God on our side, our challenges are surmountable and our future remains hopeful,” noting that the theme of this year’s rally, “The All-Sufficient God,” is both timely and reassuring.
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This was contained in a statement from the office of the Deputy Governor, signed by the Head of Press, ?Owupele Benebo.
?According to Fubara, the theme serves as a powerful reminder that in a world filled with uncertainty, God remains our unfailing source, sufficient in wisdom, strength, provision, and grace.
He stressed that when human ability reaches its limit, God’s sufficiency prevails.
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?The governor commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for its consistent spiritual impact and unwavering prayers for Rivers State and the nation, expressing appreciation for the Church’s contributions to promoting moral values, unity, and faith in God.
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?In his sermon, drawn from Genesis 17:1, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, described the Almighty God, whose name is above every other name, as all-sufficient and capable of meeting every human need.
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?He noted that the God who created all things also has the power to repair and restore them.
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?Adeboye explained that while human effort, including medical intervention, may reach its limits, there comes a point where only God steps in to turn situations around, bringing hope where none seemed possible.
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?In his address, the Pastor in charge of the Rivers Family of the RCCG, Pastor Adesoji Oni, stated that the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally, which began in 2015 and has now become an annual event, has been a tremendous blessing to the people of the State.
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Adesoji noted that the rally has drawn thousands of souls to God while impacting lives spiritually and physically.
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?He further disclosed that the Church has gone beyond preaching the gospel to actively engage in impactful initiatives through its Christian Social Responsibility programmes.
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?These include skills acquisition centres, maternity centres across the State, a rehabilitation centre for persons battling substance abuse, and an Innovative Mind Hub.
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