Rivers Approves Recruitment of 5,000 Teachers, How Hiring Will Be Shared Unveiled

• The Rivers government has approved the recruitment of 5,000 teachers 'to enhance education quality across the state'
• Governor Siminalayi Fubara's administration emphasised strict hiring standards for competent educators
• FCT minister Nyesom Wike criticised Fubara for allegedly cancelling a previous employment programme for 10,000 youths

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering education matters in Nigeria and Africa.

Port Harcourt, Rivers State - The Rivers government has approved the recruitment of 5,000 teachers to strengthen service delivery in the education sector across the state.

As reported by Channels TV, the approval was granted by the Rivers State Executive Council at its second meeting of 2026, presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, with the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma-Odu, in attendance.

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Rivers approves 5,000 teacher recruitment

The Guardian also reported on this development concerning the All Progressives Congress (APC-led) administration.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, January 27, Honor Sirawoo, the permanent secretary (PS) of the ministry of information and communications, said the recruitment is deliberately targeted at improving the quality of education in the state.

According to him, 3,000 of the approved teachers will be deployed to basic and primary schools, while 2,000 will be assigned to post-primary institutions.

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Authorities assured that the process for hiring the new 5,000 teachers will be strictly guided to ensure that only qualified and competent individuals are recruited.

Furthermore, Sirawoo noted that “this recruitment exercise brings the total number of individuals employed under the Fubara administration to approximately 9,500, highlighting the government’s sustained commitment to expanding the workforce”.

He recounted previous recruitments under the administration, which included 2,000 personnel for medical services, 1,500 for Ignatius Ajuru University, and 1,000 for the Universal Basic Education Board, reflecting a consistent focus on critical sectors.

He added:

“The administration is expanding the workforce, but we are committed to quiet service delivery rather than publicising every action because these are services to the people of Rivers."

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Wike attacks Fubara over 10,000 jobs

Meanwhile, earlier in January, Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), intensified attacks on Governor Fubara, accusing him of cancelling an employment programme for 10,000 youths.

Wike accused Fubara of abruptly terminating the recruitment exercise initiated by his administration before leaving office in 2023, describing Fubara as “a bad child” for jettisoning what he called a critical youth empowerment programme.

Wike said:

“I employed Rivers State youths (10,000). The person we handed over power to, instead of allowing the 10,000 youths to work, cancelled the job. Ten thousand youths. A bad child is a bad child."

But Chijioke Ihunwo, the former chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) and a strong ally of Governor Fubara, faulted Wike's claim.

Ihunwo posted on X:

"The claim that 10,000 youths were employed in Rivers State is false. The process was never started or concluded—it was a mere political statement. As the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) chairman (in Rivers State), I was mandated to anchor the process. No employment letters were issued to anyone.

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"I challenge the FCT Minister to produce one beneficiary. Rivers youths should ignore this baseless claim."

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PSC, police extend recruitment deadline

Legit.ng earlier reported that the Police Service Commission (PSC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), announced a two-week extension of the ongoing recruitment exercise for 50,000 police constables.

According to a statement signed by the Head of Protocol and Public Affairs of the Police Service Commission, Torty Njoku Kalu, the application portal, originally opened on December 15, 2025, will now close on February 8, 2026.

Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng