Governor Dr. Alex Otti has pledged to clear more than 20 years of unpaid gratuities, a total he says is over N60 billion, and to pay the money in phases.
He announced this at the November edition of his monthly briefing, “Governor Otti Speaks,” held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia. The pledge followed a report from a joint committee set up by the National Body of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and members of his team to confirm outstanding gratuities going back to 2001.
Governor Otti said the committee’s findings were “disheartening,” and he noted that the sums dated back more than two decades. He added that the government must address liabilities passed on from past administrations and promised to find a way forward.
He told pensioners, “One thing I would like to assure the pensioners is that their gratuities will be paid in phases. We will begin the payment gradually.”
The governor also said his administration remains current on salaries and pledged that newly hired teachers would receive pay by the end of the weekend. He stressed that future hiring for teachers and health staff will be open and based on merit.
On education, Dr. Otti said the State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu, has regained accreditation for 24 previously unaccredited courses. He listed improvements to roads, hostels, lecture halls, and classrooms as part of work to boost teacher training.
He also noted that new buildings at the permanent site of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, are complete. He pointed out the school’s role in a state recycling effort, saying, “Our students produce the ASEPA refuse buckets used across the state. If you see a bucket around your neighbourhood, it was made by our students at Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic.”
On transport, the governor said electric buses will soon begin service in the state, a move expected to cut travel costs for residents.
In land matters, Otti said his government has issued 30,562 Certificates of Occupancy in the last two and a half years. He described the push to automate the process as part of efforts to “unlock the value that was previously locked due to difficulties in issuing these certificates. We have automated the process.”
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