Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has announced that the 5,394 teachers recently recruited by his administration will officially resume duty on September 22, coinciding with the reopening of schools in the state.
Governor Otti made this disclosure on Sunday, September 14, during an unannounced worship service at Salvation Ministries, 135 Okigwe Road, Aba.
He emphasized that the recruitment exercise was conducted transparently, strictly on merit, and without political interference.
“In everything we do, we put righteousness first. We hired 5,394 teachers, and on the 22nd of this month, they will all resume. But the interesting thing is that there was no Governor’s list, no Deputy Governor’s list, no Senator’s list like it used to be in the past. Everything was done transparently—you apply, write the test, attend the interview, and we pick candidates in order of merit,” Otti said, drawing applause from the congregation.
The Governor noted that the recruitment process was open to all residents of Abia, stressing that it would be unjust to favor unqualified candidates over those who excelled.
Beyond recruitment, Otti urged citizens to safeguard public infrastructure and keep their surroundings clean, noting that Aba has been restored from its previous state of filth. He further called on residents to fulfil their civic duty by paying taxes, describing taxation as “government’s share of the prosperity it has created.”
“If we have done what we need to do as a government, then your own responsibility is to do what you have to do, including paying your taxes. We have been very mild with taxes because we understand how taxes work,” he added.
Otti also praised Aba residents for appreciating ongoing infrastructure projects, revealing that a grateful citizen donated ₦200 million to the government after a collapsed road in his community was rebuilt.
Encouraging citizens to register for the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise, the Governor warned that abstaining from voting was equivalent to empowering the wrong leaders.
After the church service, Otti inspected the reconstruction of Ovom Street in Aba, where gully erosion had displaced residents and destroyed buildings. He expressed satisfaction with the pace of work and assured the cheering crowd that the project would be completed before year’s end.
The Governor was accompanied by top government officials and personal aides during the worship and inspection visits.
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