Abia State Government Has Committed N30 Billion to Clear Inherited Salary and Pension Arrears - Gov. Alex Otti

Governor Alex Otti has revealed that his administration has committed over N30 billion toward clearing salary and pension arrears inherited from previous administrations, reaffirming his government’s resolve to restore dignity and fairness to the Abia workforce.

Speaking on Thursday at the 2025 International Workers’ Day celebration held at the Umuahia Township Stadium, Governor Otti highlighted the financial burden his government has had to shoulder in order to correct the failures of the past and rebuild trust with civil servants and pensioners.

“As you may recall, we are coming from a very bad place and had been battling to meet the burden of unpaid salary and pension arrears left by those who came before us,” the Governor stated. “In the past 23 months, we have committed sums in excess of N30 billion to offset arrears — and we are still not done.”

Governor Otti emphasized that his administration’s commitment goes beyond just settling financial backlogs. He also addressed broader issues of fairness and justice, particularly concerning civil servants who were unjustly dismissed by the previous government.

According to the Governor, discussions are ongoing with workers who were arbitrarily removed from the civil service on the basis of ethnicity or political affiliations, regardless of their contributions to the State.

“Our plan is to properly compensate them for the grave injustice done to them and ultimately make things right. We must never be known as a State that discriminates against people on account of base sentiments and primordial political considerations,” he said.

The Governor's speech drew strong applause from workers and union leaders, who praised the administration's proactive stance on labor issues. The announcement is seen as another major step in Governor Otti’s efforts to promote inclusive governance, social justice, and institutional reform in Abia State.