Governor Alex Otti’s administration in Abia State has stayed on its mission to clean up the financial wreckage inherited from the previous administration of Okezie Ikpeazu. One key focus has been the gradual payment of massive salary and pension arrears, a debt burden that had accumulated under the former governor.
In the latest effort, the state government initiated payments of the salary arrears of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, amounting to a staggering N17.6 billion. The payment came with a structured plan, involving monthly installments of N1.5 billion over the next 12 months.
The statement issued Saturday by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu read in part: “In line with the promise of the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, to defray arrears of salaries owed workers of institutions in the state by previous administrations, the office of the Accountant General has commenced the payment of the arrears to all verified workers amounting to N17, 629,767,342,09.”
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In a video shared on social media, Jubilant scenes played out across the institution, where the beleaguered workers who had endured months of uncertainty, were seen celebrating after receiving bank alerts confirming the first round of payments. The joy was palpable, with many of the workers praising the governor for making good on his promise to alleviate their plight.
This latest payment is part of a broader commitment by Otti to tackle the backlog of arrears that have crippled various sectors of the state’s workforce. His government had earlier begun clearing pension arrears, another significant debt inherited from Ikpeazu’s administration.
For years, retirees were left unpaid, leading to hardship and protests, but the Otti administration has begun addressing this with deliberate and steady repayments.
Otti’s strategy has been clear from the start: while balancing financial constraints, his administration is ensuring that workers’ welfare remains at the forefront. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, emphasized that the government’s structured payment approach is aimed at addressing arrears without neglecting other areas of governance. This balance, he stated, ensures that all aspects of the state’s development agenda continue to move forward.
The pension arrears, much like the salary debt, had caused severe strain on the state’s retirees, many of whom had lost hope of receiving their entitlements. Otti’s resolve to clear these outstanding debts speaks to his broader mission to restore financial discipline and rebuild trust between the government and its citizens.
However, despite these efforts, Otti’s administration has faced criticism, notably from individuals who were part of the previous government. In a statement from the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, he expressed frustration at the irony of those who had left the state in financial disarray now criticizing the efforts to fix their failures.
“Ironically, those who looted and plundered salaries of State workers will still shamelessly criticize the Governor for cleaning their mess in the name of opposition politics.
“Governor Otti feels fulfilled with the thunderous jubilation and excitement of Abia workers than the bitterness of those denied access to statutory workers and retirees entitlements”, Ukoha said.
This contrast in leadership styles is becoming increasingly clear to the people of Abia, who have been neglected for years. While the previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration allowed salary arrears to pile up, the current government is gradually winning back public confidence by demonstrating a hands-on approach to fiscal responsibility. As Governor Otti continues to clean house, many are hopeful that the state will experience long-overdue stability and progress.