The Abia State Government has approved the payment of the adjusted minimum wage for workers under the State Education Management Board (SEMB), including teachers across the state.

The Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Basic and Secondary Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, made the disclosure in a statement issued on Sunday in Umuahia.

According to him, the move forms part of the administration’s broader efforts to improve the welfare of education workers and ensure that outstanding benefits are settled.

He said the government remains committed to the timely payment of salaries and entitlements for all personnel in the education sector, adding that work is ongoing to process leave allowances for SEMB staff and teachers.

Nwosu also explained that arrangements are being finalised to compensate teachers whose appointments had earlier been extended for five years but were later affected by administrative and system-related challenges.

He commended Governor Otti for giving priority attention to education and for maintaining a consistent focus on the well-being of teachers and other workers in the sector.

The state government had earlier, in 2023, approved the implementation of the revised minimum wage in line with the Federal Government’s directive. However, some employees reportedly experienced delays in the payment of salaries and allowances, particularly those whose extended service contracts had expired.

The latest approval is expected to address the backlog of payments and align workers’ earnings with the updated wage structure.