Trending 
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced plans to recruit 3,000 additional teachers to strengthen manpower and enhance learning outcomes across the state’s public schools.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua.
Last week, Governor Okpebholo presided over the formal distribution of 5,000 employment letters to teachers who had previously worked on contract under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, earning ₦65,000 monthly stipends.
During the ceremony held at the Government House, Benin City, the governor underscored the importance of education to his administration’s development agenda and reiterated his commitment to prioritising teachers’ welfare.
In recognition of his reforms, the Edo State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) presented the governor with a Lifetime Achievement Award on Tuesday for his outstanding contributions to the state’s education sector.
The award was presented by NUT State Chairman, Bernard Ajobiewe, alongside the Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Chapter, Comrade Bernard Egwahide.
Responding, Governor Okpebholo announced the recruitment of 3,000 new teachers to fill existing vacancies and consolidate ongoing education reforms.
“Teachers remain a top priority in our development agenda, and the state has finalised plans to employ 3,000 additional teachers,” Okpebholo said.
“We are building and renovating schools across Edo, and as infrastructure improves, so must manpower. Our goal is to ensure that no school lacks qualified teachers and that every child receives quality education in a conducive learning environment.”
The governor emphasised that his administration had ended the era of overcrowded classrooms and combined lessons, describing current reforms as vital to restoring public confidence in public education.
He assured labour unions of continued collaboration to sustain industrial harmony and effective policy implementation, pledging to donate a bus to the NUT to aid its statewide operations and school monitoring activities.
“We will continue to maintain a strong working relationship with the NUT and all labour unions. The welfare of teachers remains the heart of our education reforms,” he added.
In his remarks, Ajobiewe praised the governor for regularising the employment status of over 5,000 EdoStar teachers who had remained contract staff for more than three years under the previous administration.
“In less than a year, our story as teachers has changed from frustration to fulfilment. Governor Okpebholo has not only restored dignity to the teaching profession but has rekindled hope in public education,” he said.
Similarly, Egwahide commended the governor’s people-oriented leadership and pledged the union’s continued support for his administration.
“We are grateful to a governor who listens, acts, and delivers. The workers of Edo State will stand by you as you continue to transform our education sector,” he noted.
Since assuming office, Governor Okpebholo has implemented bold reforms aimed at transforming the state’s civil and public service into one of the most efficient in Nigeria.
Under the leadership of Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, the government has also employed 1,000 cleaners as civil servants, ending outsourced cleaning contracts, and recruited nearly 2,000 new staff across critical sectors such as health, education, and agriculture — bringing total new hires to over 3,000 within a year.
