Governor Alex Otti has stated that his administration has committed over N40 billion to clear arrears of salaries and pensions in the past two years.
Mr Otti said this on Thursday during an event organised to mark his administration’s second anniversary in Umuahia.
The governor said this move was aimed at restoring dignity and financial stability to the state’s workforce and retirees. He said prompt salary and pension payments had become an integral part of the system, with workers now paid by the 28th of every month.
Mr Otti added that pensioners now receive full monthly payments, ending the era of partial disbursements that retirees experienced.
He also announced the full renovation of the previously abandoned Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat, now housing nearly 1,000 civil servants.
The governor revealed efforts to digitise government operations and phase out manual filing systems through the provision of computers. He also said an agreement with MTN would ensure full network coverage across the state by December 31, 2025.
Mr Otti said the state would also be witnessing the development of the first Aba Digital Mall by MTN, aimed at boosting e-commerce and local trade.
Mr Otti reiterated his resolve to allocate 20 per cent of Abia’s budget to education and confirmed that smart schools were under construction across all 17 local government areas.
ALSO READ: Igala Forum Backs ADC's Leke Abejide For Kogi GovernorshipBy Abubakar Yunusa The Igala Leadership Forum (ILF), a distinguished assembly of Igala elites representing all nine local governments, including Bassa, has formally endorsed Hon. Leke Abejide, the gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the preferred choice for the upcoming Kogi State gubernatorial election.In a collective stance, the Igala group has expressed its concern over the state's prolonged underdevelopment, poverty, and insecurity, attributing these challenges to the lack of competent and honest leadership by successive governors over the past two decades.With a keen desire to bring about a transformative shift in the state's trajectory, the ILF earnestly urges the people of Kogi State to exercise their voting rights judiciously and select the most suitable candidate for the task at hand.The elite forum emphasizes that supporting Hon. Leke Abejide's candidacy aligns with their commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of Kogi West, who have consistently supported the Igala community. The group also takes a critical stance against Usman Jibrin of the Accord party and Muritala Yakubu Ajaka of the SDP, accusing them of leveraging the current Igala situation for personal gains and vendetta. The ILF asserts that such actions have diverted attention from the genuine aspirations of the Igala community, necessitating a redirection and repositioning ahead of future elections.Ibrahim Oma Koji Attah, in a statement on behalf of the ILF, affirms Hon. Leke's friendship and sensitivity towards the Igala community, praising his track record of avoiding reckless statements or derogatory remarks about the largest tribe in the state. Furthermore, Oma-Koji Attah extends a call to other Igala candidates, urging them to foster collaboration and ensure that the historical relationship between the East and the West remains mutually beneficial.The group uses this platform to firmly caution Yahaya Bello against resorting to thuggery during the 2023 elections, asserting that vigilant eyes will be monitoring the process to ensure a fair and just outcome. Additionally, the ILF condemns the continuous misappropriation of workers' salaries by the government and places confidence in the Leke/Omede ticket to address this pressing issue.Meanwhile,the ILF encourages the Igala and Bassa communities to regard the people of Okun as brothers, fostering unity among the regions. The group places responsibility on Igala leaders who have engaged in unscrupulous dealings with Usman Jibrin and Muritala Ajaka, thereby undermining the integrity of the 2023 election process. The ILF firmly maintains that the return of the Ebira community to Lugard House in January 2024 must not be allowed.
According to him, Abia’s free basic education policy had increased enrolment, prompting the transparent recruitment of 5,300 new teachers earlier this year.
He also disclosed that another 4,000 teachers would be recruited to match the growing student population across public schools.
The governor assured equal opportunities for all, regardless of state of origin, ethnicity, or religion, during the exercise.
On health, he stated that over 100 primary healthcare centres had been renovated, with commissioning scheduled to begin on June 1. Mr Otti also said that renovations were ongoing at ten general hospitals and two specialist centres to improve healthcare delivery in Abia.
Mr Otti revealed plans for a medical village to tackle outbound medical tourism and position Abia as Nigeria’s healthcare hub.
(NAN)
