The Abia State Government has announced plans to begin paying the ₦16 billion backlog of gratuities owed retirees since 2001. Governor Alex Otti, speaking during his monthly media chat “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians” in Umuahia, explained that the payment will be phased because of the massive financial burden. He said the decision followed persistent appeals from pensioners and concerned citizens, noting that government must honour its obligations regardless of who incurred them.

Otti also revealed that his administration will revisit the EndSARS panel report to address unresolved injustices. On the issue of unpaid salaries for newly recruited teachers, he said the delay was caused by internal hitches that have now been resolved, assuring that the affected teachers will begin receiving their salaries starting next Monday.

The governor announced that the state’s call for 4,000 new teachers attracted more than 27,000 applications. He promised a transparent selection process that will prioritise merit over influence.

Meanwhile, the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, has regained accreditation for 24 courses previously lost under the past administration. Otti said the institution is also witnessing significant infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to roads, hostels, and lecture facilities, aimed at providing a better environment for training teachers.

He added that new buildings at the permanent site of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, are ready for commissioning. The governor commended the polytechnic’s contribution to state development, highlighting that students there produce the refuse bins currently used by the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency.

On transportation, Otti announced that newly acquired electric buses will hit Abia roads before year’s end, a move he said will help reduce transport costs. He also disclosed that the state has issued 3,562 certificates of occupancy in the last two and a half years—an unprecedented figure aimed at unlocking economic value through a fully automated process.