UMUAHIA — Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has assured families and next-of-kin of deceased pensioners that his administration will pay all outstanding benefits owed to their late relatives as the state begins the gradual clearance of more than N60 billion in accumulated gratuity liabilities.
Otti gave the assurance on Thursday during his monthly media interaction, “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia.
The governor, while responding to questions on pension and gratuity payments, said his administration had made provisions to address the financial entitlements of deceased pensioners.
He assured affected families that the government remained committed to settling the obligations owed to retirees and their beneficiaries.
Otti disclosed that the state government had recently completed the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired workers who exited the state civil service between 2001 and 2010.
He said the government would now focus on retirees who left service from 2011 to date, with payments to be made gradually based on the resources available to the state.
According to him, the government inherited outstanding gratuity liabilities estimated at more than N60 billion and had resolved to clear the backlog systematically.
«“We are getting ready to deal with the remaining years from 2011 all the way to the present, based on available resources. So we are taking them gradually.»
«“Like I had reported earlier, we found that outstanding gratuities were over N60 billion. And we are undertaking to clear those gratuities gradually,” the governor said.»
New contributory pension scheme
The governor also said his administration was putting measures in place to prevent a recurrence of the pension and gratuity challenges that had affected retirees in the state over the years.
He disclosed that the state had introduced a contributory pension scheme covering more than 36,000 workers.
Otti explained that the scheme would ensure regular contributions by both the government and workers towards their future pension obligations.
He said the arrangement would make the payment of pensions and gratuities more predictable and sustainable.
«“So what that means is that the issue of pensions and even gratuity will become seamless, since the contributory pension scheme is such that between the worker and the employer, some funds are set aside on a monthly basis to take care of the pension and gratuity,” he said.»
New ABSU Vice-Chancellor to assume office November 1
The governor also announced that a new substantive Vice-Chancellor would take over at Abia State University, Uturu, from November 1, 2026.
He said the appointment process had commenced ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the institution’s Acting Vice-Chancellor at the end of October.
According to Otti, advertisements for the position had already been published, while the recruitment and selection process was ongoing.
He said the transition was necessary to ensure that the university has a substantive head to lead the institution from the beginning of November.
«“In Abia State University, the process for leadership transition has started, given that the Acting Vice Chancellor, I believe his tenure expires end of October.»
«“So from first November, a substantive and new Vice Chancellor would take over. And because of that, I think the advertisements have gone out, and the recruitment process has started,” Otti said.»
4,074 additional teachers recruited
Otti further disclosed that his administration had engaged an additional 4,074 teachers to strengthen staffing in public primary and secondary schools across the state.
The latest recruitment, he said, followed the earlier engagement of 5,394 teachers, bringing the total number of newly recruited teachers to 9,468.
The governor explained that the recruitment was not carried out randomly but was targeted at areas and academic disciplines where manpower shortages were most pronounced.
He said the deployment of the newly recruited teachers was already underway.
«“We are intentional in this recruitment, that we are targeted at locations and then in the different disciplines where they are required.»
«“So the deployment is happening as we speak. We have also engaged in massive infrastructure upgrade of the tertiary institutions,” he said.»
Tertiary institutions receive infrastructure upgrades
The governor said his administration was also implementing major infrastructure projects across the state’s tertiary institutions as part of efforts to improve the learning environment and raise educational standards.
He said the government would continue to invest in facilities and other areas required to strengthen the institutions.
Otti also announced plans to reconstitute the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) to improve the administration and management of secondary education in the state.
Citizens’ Engagement Centre unveiled
The governor further announced that the state’s Citizens’ Engagement Centre would soon be officially opened to give residents a direct channel to communicate with the government.
According to him, the centre will enable citizens to ask questions, make observations, raise concerns and contribute suggestions on government policies and programmes.
He disclosed that residents would be able to reach the centre through a dedicated helpline, 0800-0000232, and the email address contactcenter@abiastate.gov.ng.
Otti said the initiative was designed to strengthen communication between the government and citizens and ensure that residents had a platform through which their views could reach the appropriate authorities.
Abia ranked high on healthcare
On healthcare, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving access to affordable and quality medical services across the state.
He said Abia was recently ranked first in healthcare affordability and third in healthcare quality in the 2026 Phillips Consulting State Performance Index in Nigeria.
Otti said the government would continue to implement reforms aimed at improving healthcare delivery and ensuring that public policies remained focused on the needs and welfare of residents.
The media interaction was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Meribole; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba; Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu; and other members of the State Executive Council.
