My administration ‘ll run full steam from June ending – Otti

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

 Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has revealed that his new administration would start running in full steam by the end of this month, when he would name his Commissioners and commence payment of salaries to vicil servants.

Otii also said remodeling of Umuahia, the state capital, would also commence in about three months.

Otti who spoke during a thanksgiving Service organized in honour of the Member of the House of Representatives representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, at the weekend in Ohuhu, Umuahia North Local government area of the state.

The Governor noted that setting up his cabinet would enable the government run properly, adding that the recent inauguration of the State House of Assembly would give impetus to effective running of the government.

The Abia State Chief Executive, who told guests at the event that Umuahia, the capital city of Abia, was like a glorified village, announced that in the next three months, his administration would begin the process of  transforming the city to enhance its aesthetics and solicited support from all and sundry.

On the vexed issue of salary payment, the Governor raised the hopes of civil servants and Abians that payment of salaries would commence by the end of June.

Otti, during his inauguration, had given the impression that payment of salaries would happen in a matter of days, but has yet to happen, creating room for anxiety and for opponents of the new administration to accuse the Governor of not keeping to his promise.

But Otti made it public that government was yet to embark on payment of the salaries owed workers because of padding, as his administration was grappling with confirming numbers of workers and figures to be paid.

According to him, the immediate past government was owing civil servants in the state for upwards of 30 months’ salary arrears, adding that the total indebtedness left behind by the previous administration “at the last count,” was over N200 billion, but assured that “it is a debt the state has to pay.” 

“I must assure you that we will deal with them. By the end of this month we would start paying confirmed salary arrears. 

“You also know that a lot of our elderly people, who have retired, have been owed several years of pension arrears. We promised during our campaign that we were going to defray the arrears. We will start as soon as possible. 

“What is holding us is that we also found out that there is a lot of fictitious figures and numbers that cannot be confirmed,” the Governor explained. 

Otti said his government has embarked on proper verification of workers in the state civil service prior to the commencement of payment of the outstanding salaries. 

“So we have started with the forensic audit to ensure that we will be paying the right people. We plead with you to exercise patience and understand with us as we work to make Abia State a better place,” the Governor appealed. 

Earlier, Hon. Aguocha had thanked Dr. Otti for making it possible for him to emerge as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and going forward to win the National Assembly seat.

The federal lawmaker noted that this was the first time in 19 years the Ohuhu people have been given the opportunity to produce a member of Lower Chamber of the National Assembly. “Ohuhu people would be eternally grateful to Governor Otti for liberating Ohuhu people from political bondage,” Aguocha said.

He promised effective representation for his constituents and assured that he would work with the Governor to attract greater developments to Abia.

The event attracted several dignitaries from the Ohuhu community, homestead of Aguocha, including the pioneer Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Ambassador Empire Kanu; the Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emereuwa, members of the National Assembly, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu and the Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah, among others.