Gov Otti begins payment of N17.6B salary arrears to tertiary institution staff

Tertiary institutions in Abia State were filled with joy this weekend as staff members started receiving bank alerts for their long-overdue salary arrears, amounting to N17.6 billion.

A viral video captured jubilant staff from Abia Polytechnic, Aba, praising Governor Alex Otti for fulfilling his promise to clear the arrears in monthly installments of N1.5 billion.

In a statement, the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, confirmed the commencement of the payments, stating that the government will continue the N1.5 billion monthly disbursements for 12 months until the debt is fully cleared.

The statement issued Saturday 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.

“The Abia State Government wishes to state that the payment will follow a 12-month amortization plan with the first batch already disbursed to the affected institutions.

” This structured payment is meant to ensure that other areas of governance do not suffer from lack of attention due to limited financial resources.

“By this development, the Otti- led administration, has once more, demonstrated its commitment to the promotion and sustenance of the welfare of Abia State civil servants at all times.”

In another statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, regretted that those who accumulated the debt when they were in power, would still be critical of the Governor instead of commending him for “clearing their mess”.

“Ironically, those who looted and plundered salaries of State workers will still shamelessly criticise 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.