RSG To Recruit 5,000 Teachers To Boost Education Sector

The Rivers State Government has approved the recruitment of 5,000 teachers into the state civil service as part of measures to address classroom shortages and strengthen educational outcomes across the state.

The approval was granted during the second Rivers State Executive Council meeting of 2026, presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Government House, Port Harcourt, with Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, in attendance.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honor Sirawoo, said the recruitment exercise is strategically targeted at the education sector. According to him, 3,000 teachers will be deployed to basic and primary schools, while 2,000 will be posted to post-primary institutions across the state.

Dr Sirawoo explained that the move is aimed at strengthening service delivery in the education sector and improving learning outcomes, particularly at foundational levels. He added that with this exercise, the total number of persons employed under the Fubara administration now stands at about 9,500.

He recalled that previous recruitments by the administration included 2,000 personnel for medical services, 1,500 staff for Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and 1,000 employees for the Universal Basic Education Board.

The Permanent Secretary assured that the recruitment process would be strictly merit-based to ensure that only qualified and competent individuals are engaged. He noted that the administration remains committed to service delivery rather than publicity.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr Chisom Kenneth Gbali, described the council’s approval as a significant boost for job creation and human capital development in the state. He said his ministry would work closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure proper alignment with sectoral needs.

Observers say the initiative is timely, especially in the education sector where teacher shortages have continued to affect learning outcomes in both urban and rural communities.

The Rivers State Government has pledged transparency throughout the recruitment process, assuring residents that selections will be based strictly on qualifications, experience and merit.