Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his plan to settle the state’s massive pension arrears, insisting that his administration will not abandon retirees who have waited years for their entitlements.
Speaking during his November media chat, the governor revealed that a joint committee set up with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) had completed its audit of outstanding liabilities. The verified backlog, he explained, now stands at more than N60 billion.
Otti lamented the length of time pensioners have been left without payment, describing the situation as “a painful reminder of how governance failed many citizens.”
However, he stressed that his government was determined to tackle the debt responsibly.
According to him, leadership requires continuity. “We inherited both the good and the bad,” he said.
“What matters is finding honest solutions to long-standing problems, and we are already charting that path.”
Moreover, Otti told retirees that the state would begin gradual payment of gratuities to ensure that governance and essential services remain stable while the arrears are being addressed.
He noted that the phased approach would “guarantee steady progress without disrupting the state’s financial balance”.
The governor also highlighted improvements in the government’s financial discipline, noting that salaries are now paid promptly.
“Our approach is simple: workers and retirees must never be left behind,” he said, adding that pensions and gratuities would continue to receive top priority.
During the media chat, Otti issued a directive for newly recruited teachers to receive their outstanding salaries before the end of the week.
He further assured prospective teachers and medical workers that all ongoing recruitment exercises would remain transparent and merit-driven.
On land administration, the governor disclosed that 30,562 certificates of occupancy had been issued in the last two and a half years, an achievement he described as unprecedented.
He explained that automation had eliminated the delays that previously hindered property registration.
“Some states struggle to reach that figure in nearly a decade,” he said.
Furthermore, Otti announced that the electric buses procured by his administration have started arriving.
He revealed that the buses would be deployed before the end of the year, a move he believes will significantly reduce transportation costs across Abia.
With the pension audit completed and new policies unfolding, the governor maintained that his administration was “laying foundations that will outlive the present government”, opening a broader conversation about long-term governance reforms in the state.