The Abia State Government has announced plans to implement stricter disciplinary measures against absenteeism and misconduct by public school teachers, including the introduction of a biometric attendance system.

Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Lydia Onuoha, made this known while addressing concerns over what she described as a rising trend of poor attendance and negligence of duty among teachers in the state’s public schools.

She said the state government would begin enforcing the Public Service Rules and the Teachers’ Code of Conduct, including disciplinary actions such as queries, suspension, and dismissal, where necessary.

“The full weight of public service rules shall be invoked where necessary, and the government will not hesitate to act in the interest of the children and the future of our state,” Onuoha said.

To address the problem, she explained that the state would introduce biometric attendance systems in schools to monitor and track teachers’ presence and punctuality.

Onuoha also disclosed that the government would implement a statewide monitoring and enforcement strategy in collaboration with local government education authorities and local school management committees. This would involve unannounced visits to schools and mandatory monthly attendance reports submitted by Head Teachers to their respective Local Government Education Authorities and ASUBEB.

She described absenteeism and related misconduct as a violation of professional ethics and public service standards, adding that such behaviour undermines the confidence placed in teachers and contradicts the ongoing efforts of Governor Alex Otti’s administration to support the teaching profession.

“The government has taken steps to improve teacher welfare,” she said, noting that long-overdue promotions had been approved, leave allowances paid, and the 27.5 per cent teachers’ special salary allowance implemented.

Onuoha reiterated the administration’s commitment to improving the quality of public education in the state and said the measures were aimed at ensuring that the investments made in the sector yield visible results for students and communities.