Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti has announced that his administration will commence the gradual payment of verified gratuity and pension arrears owed to retirees dating back to 2001.
Speaking during his monthly media chat at the Government House, Umuahia, on Friday, Otti said the state had completed a comprehensive review of all pending pension claims in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP).
“The committee that we set up between the national body of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and members of my administration has just handed in the report,” he said, noting that verified arrears exceed N60 billion. The governor assured retirees that payments would be made gradually, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to staff welfare.
Addressing delayed salaries for newly recruited teachers, Otti added, “I have instructed everyone involved that they cannot have a weekend until every affected teacher is paid. By the end of Sunday, all the people who are affected will receive their salaries.”
Otti further revealed that the state had reopened its recruitment portal to hire 4,000 teachers, attracting 27,980 applications within two weeks, and vowed the process would remain transparent. On healthcare, recruitment of medical personnel was nearly complete, with applicants coming even from outside Nigeria.
Highlighting Abia’s achievements, he noted the state topped national rankings for emergency preparedness (SBM Intelligence) and intra-city transport affordability (Kevlin Index). Newly acquired electric buses will be deployed before year-end to further reduce transport costs.
The governor also reported resumed road construction following improved weather conditions and progress in land administration, revealing that 30,562 Certificates of Occupancy were issued under the ‘C-of-O-in-30-days’ policy in two and a half years. Revenue recovery efforts have been strengthened through demand notices and court orders, with enforcement strictly numbers-based.
On education, Otti announced the accreditation of 24 courses at the Abia State College of Education (Technical) and Architecture and ongoing upgrades at Abia State University and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic. Improvements at the NYSC camp in Bende include upgraded power, water, roads, and increased allowances for corps members from N4,000 to between N20,000 and N50,000.
Finally, Otti updated on the Nigerian Correctional Service, noting ongoing perimeter fencing and development of a new holding centre. Plans to grant pardons to minor offenders were stalled, as none of the 1,900 inmates reviewed qualified, but he has requested a fresh review as year-end approaches.
