In a decisive push to deepen human capital development and reverse long-standing deficits in the education sector, the Rivers State Government has approved the recruitment of 5,000 teachers into the state civil service, marking one of the most ambitious workforce expansions under the current administration.
The approval was granted at the second Rivers State Executive Council meeting of 2026, held at Government House, Port Harcourt, and presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, 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 drive is strategically designed to address acute shortages in classrooms and reposition education as a cornerstone of the state’s development agenda.
According to him, 3,000 of the new teachers will be deployed to basic and primary schools, while 2,000 will strengthen staffing at post-primary institutions, a move expected to significantly reduce student-teacher ratios and improve learning outcomes across both urban and rural communities.
Dr. Sirawoo disclosed that the latest approval brings the total number of employments under the Fubara administration to about 9,500, underscoring what he described as a deliberate and sustained investment in people rather than rhetoric.
He recalled that earlier recruitment exercises had absorbed 2,000 personnel into the health sector, 1,500 into Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, and 1,000 into the Universal Basic Education Board, reflecting a pattern of targeted intervention in sectors critical to social and economic development.
Emphasising transparency and competence, Dr. Sirawoo assured that the recruitment process would be strictly merit-based, noting that the administration is more focused on effective service delivery than publicity.
“These are services to the people of Rivers State. Our emphasis is on quiet efficiency and results that citizens can feel,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr. Chisom Kenneth Gbali, described the council’s approval as a major boost to the ministry’s mandate, noting that job creation and skills deployment remain central to the government’s policy direction.
Education analysts have described the recruitment as timely, arguing that chronic teacher shortages have for years undermined educational quality and widened inequality between public and private schools in the state.
Beyond the classroom, the expansion of the workforce is expected to stimulate the local economy, reduce unemployment, and strengthen institutional capacity, ensuring that government policies translate into measurable improvements in citizens’ lives.
The recruitment will span multiple cadres, combining teaching and administrative roles to create a balanced and efficient civil service.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the move, expressing optimism that an influx of qualified teachers will raise academic standards and restore confidence in public education.
Dr. Gbali added that his ministry would work closely with the Ministry of Education to align recruitment with actual institutional needs and ensure that successful candidates undergo proper training and orientation.
As the recruitment exercise is set to commence in the coming weeks, expectations are high that the initiative will not only reshape the education sector but also reinforce Rivers State’s long-term development strategy, anchored on human capital, inclusive growth and responsive governance.
