Abia government approves adjusted minimum wage for teachers, SEMB staff

Abia State Government has officially approved the implementation of an adjusted minimum wage specifically targeting teachers and staff of the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB).

This move is designed to resolve long-standing pay discrepancies and ensures that education workers are fully integrated into the state’s updated wage structure.

the Approval​The announcement, made on Sunday, February 8, by Kenechukwu Nwosu, Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Basic and Secondary Education, highlights several critical updates

Salary Correction: The approval addresses “system-related issues” and delays that previously prevented some SEMB staff and teachers from receiving the full benefits of the revised minimum wage (which was initially set at ₦70,000 in late 2024).

​Leave Allowances: The government is currently processing outstanding leave allowances for both teachers and SEMB personnel to clear the backlog.

Service Extensions: Arrangements are being finalized to pay educators whose services were extended (under the new 65-year retirement age policy) but who faced administrative disruptions in their salary flow.

Parity in Payment: This adjustment fulfills Governor Otti’s promise to “banish discrimination,” ensuring that primary and secondary school teachers receive their entitlements simultaneously with other civil servants.

While Abia began implementing the new national minimum wage in October 2024, the “consequential adjustments” for middle and senior-level staff (Levels 8–17) faced technical hurdles. Throughout 2025, teachers’ unions had threatened or conducted strikes over these discrepancies. This latest approval serves as the final administrative “green light” to synchronize education sector pay with the rest of the state’s workforce.