‘We Will Clear Abia Pension Arrears In March’ – Otti Assures

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has reaffirmed his administration commitment to paying all outstanding arrears of pensioners in the state by the end of March 2024.

Governor Otti disclosed this during a media chat with journalists held at Government House, Umuahia, on Monday.

During his speech on pensioners welfare at the commencement of the parley, Governor Otti affirmed that his administration is on the verge of “putting an end to the long lingering pension issues” in the state.

In his own words: “By the end of this month, we are going to resolve this long pension lingering issue. In exco today, we had some approval and they are secured, very soon, the pensioners will hear from us.”

Recall that Governor Otti, had during his new year broadcast in January assured that he would fulfil the promise before the end of the first quarter of 2024 even if it would require his administration to go to the Abia House of Assembly to seek approvals.

Beginning from governor Otti’s campaign period, he had repeatedly promised to clear the pension arrears by the end of 2023 but in his state-wide broadcast on January 1, 2024, the governor tendered an apology for his inability to keep the earlier promise to clear accumulated pension arrears.

The governor explained that the funds needed to clear the arrears were beyond what he had projected and also hinted that, in line with his earlier promise, he would carry out an upward review of workers’ salaries in the state.