Otti Makes Bold History—Abia’s Forgotten Pensioners Finally Get Paid After Two Decades Full Details

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has announced the commencement of payments for verified gratuity and pension arrears owed since 2001, describing the decades-old backlog as a burden the state can no longer overlook.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking during his monthly media briefing at the Government House in Umuahia, Otti revealed that his administration had completed a comprehensive audit of all outstanding claims. The review, conducted jointly with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, resulted in a detailed report that has now been submitted.

“The committee we constituted—made up of representatives from the national body of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and members of my administration—has just presented its report,” Otti said.

“After several appeals, we revisited the issue, and the findings are troubling. Pension arrears have been left unpaid since 2001, and the total verified outstanding amount exceeds ₦60 billion.”

He described the backlog as a massive liability spanning more than two decades but reaffirmed his administration’s determination to tackle it. “Government is continuous, and whatever you inherit—assets or liabilities—you must address. We are ready to find solutions,” he added.

The governor assured retirees that uncertainty was coming to an end. “I want to assure our pensioners that their gratuities will be paid gradually,” he said, noting that salaries for active workers remained up to date.

Otti also addressed payment delays affecting newly hired teachers and issued a strict ultimatum. “I have instructed those responsible that they cannot enjoy their weekend until every affected teacher is paid. By the end of Sunday, all those involved will receive their salaries,” he declared.

He reported that the state’s recently reopened recruitment portal for 4,000 teaching positions received 27,980 applications in just two weeks—a turnout he said demonstrated strong public confidence in the system. He promised a fair and transparent selection process, similar to the previous exercise.

“You can sleep peacefully knowing that if you qualify, you will be selected, and if you don’t, no level of influence will get you in,” the governor emphasized.

Otti also disclosed that the recruitment of medical personnel was nearing completion, with some applicants applying from outside Nigeria. He highlighted recent national rankings, stating that SBM Intelligence rated Abia as the most prepared state for medical emergencies.

Additionally, Abia ranked highest on the Kevlin Index for intra-city transport affordability. He noted the sharp contrast between Abia’s average fare of ₦542 and the ₦1,399 recorded in the lowest-ranked state, describing the difference as “like day and night.”

The governor further confirmed that the state’s newly acquired electric buses would be deployed before the end of the year to help reduce transportation costs.