Abia seeks necessary clarifications on conduct of Council Poll says governor Alex Otti
Former Health Commissioner did not steal but decided to resign.
Abia state governor Dr Alex Otti has stated that there has always been plan to conduct LG elections but that following recent developments, it will seek necessary clarifications from appropriate quarters including the Legislature to secure the necessary powers that will enable the conduct seamlessly.
He also has explained that the former state Health Commissioner Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo who resigned while on suspension, was found not to have stolen or mismanaged funds but decided to resign while government accepted her resignation.
The governor who spoke weekend while reacting to questions during his monthly media chat with Abians, reiterated his vow that no state resources or fund shall be stolen under his watch saying “we do not condone corruption , any appointee caught in embezzlement or any corrupt act shall be penalized”.
He announced decision to raise the retirement age of some public servants especially Nurses and Teachers from 60 to 65 years describing his administration as one elected and installed by the people, does not behold any God father, doing everything to make life easier for the people despite meeting ” a very poor state of accounts”.
He also spoke on other matters saying that his administration has been able to operate without borrowing a dime despite that it has proactively successfully negotiated tempting loan offers which can be accessed only when it becomes necessary and inevitable.
On the new minimum wage of N70,000.00/which he earlier said he would be one of the firsts to begin to implement the rate the Federal government and Labour would agree governor Otti announced that a Committee was already in place working on the provision for the salary increase in line with the new minimum wage but added that the increase will also extend to other categories of Workers .
According to governor Otti, who is the only Labour Party governor in the Country , cited Agriculture before Digital Technology as his priority areas, stating that government is signing papers for mechanized farming.
” We are reclaiming the old farm settlements and commissioning palm plantations scattered across the state. We are doing away with Files as we digitize government records, systems and processes”.
On Sports, he lauded the Abia Warriors Football Club for getting to the finals of the 2023/2024 FA Cup competition for government rewarded the Club with a new Toyota Bus, N30 million and himself donating N10 million to the Club through his Alex Otti Foundation, promising the Club continued support.
” I was very pleased as I watched our Abia Warriors inch to the finals and I can say without any fear of contradiction that next time around, they will lift the FA Cup”.
