Otti explains failure to offset pension areas

…Promises greater focus on sanitation

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has explained that government was unable to honour its promise of clearing arrears of pension and gratuity owed retirees in state because of under estimation the debt portfolio.

Governor Otti gave the explanation during his New Year Broadcast on January 1, 2024.

From his campaigns to election victory, inauguration and governance, Otti has consistently assured that he was comitted to clearing the arrears of pensions owed the senior citizens by the end of 2023.

Expectations were high during the Christmas period that government would keep to its promise as top government officials continued to reassure that the pensions arrears would be paid.

But by the end of December 31, 2023, the alerts failed to hit the accounts of the expectant pensioners.

However, the Governor used the opportunity of his New Year broadcast to clear the issue.

He said: “You will recall that during the campaigns and up till recently, we had made a promise to pay the arrears of pensions being owed our retired civil servants by the end of 2023.

“It’s unfortunate to report that a few challenges have conspired to ensure that we were unable to keep this promise.

“Based on the figures available to us, we had arranged the funds to make good this promise. However, before making the payment, we decided to conduct a digital verification of the pensioners. To our utter shock, we found that there were pensioners who had been owed since 2014.

“To ensure that the verification exercise did not add extra burden to the already owed pensioners, we took it down to them at their respective wards. Those who were sick or too old, had their own verification taken to their houses.

“At the end of the exercise, just about a week ago, the total figure required for the payment was twice the amount we had provided.” The Governor said while government would continue to engage the National Union of Pensioners, “we believe we will be able to make the payment before the end of the first quarter of the new year. If required, we may go back to the House of Assembly for necessary approvals to ensure that this payment is made.”

Otti also said that in the new year, government would pay a lot of attention on environmental sanitation.

“We have done a lot to keep our towns and villages clean. However, we still see pockets of garbage and filth around us. We would appeal to everyone to join in the crusade to keep Abia clean,” he said.

Welcoming Abian to the New Year, Otti said  the state government would always be there for the citizens in all situations.

“Our expectation is that 2024 will be a great year for everyone. However, we must admit that we cannot make perfect predictions on what the year will bring as several factors are entirely outside our control.

“Our assurance to all as we begin another journey of hope and expectations is that your government will always be there for you, offering necessary support and direction to help you take advantage of the many opportunities that are to emerge in the course of the year, as well as navigate the storms of unexpected events,” he assured.