Otti to Commence Settlement of Long-Standing Salary Arrears Owed Former Councillors

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to justice and equitable governance with the announcement that payment of long-outstanding salary arrears owed to former councillors who served between 1999 and 2022 will commence before the end of February.

The Governor made this disclosure during a strategic engagement with members of the Association of Former Elected Councillors at the JAAC Secretariat, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia. He explained that the settlement would be executed in structured batches to ensure administrative efficiency and fiscal sustainability.

According to Governor Otti, all necessary modalities are being finalized to guarantee a seamless disbursement process. “By the end of this month, we shall commence payment,” he assured, signaling a decisive step toward resolving a protracted issue that had lingered for decades.

Commending the association for withdrawing pending litigation against the State Government, Governor Otti described the gesture as an act of goodwill and a testament to their confidence in his administration’s sincerity. He reiterated that his leadership philosophy is anchored on stewardship, integrity, and fairness, emphasizing that every labourer is deserving of his wages.

The Governor categorically dismissed insinuations of political undertones, stressing that the decision to offset the arrears is driven purely by moral responsibility and a principled commitment to justice. “This is not about partisan affiliation. Regardless of political leaning, everyone will be treated with fairness and dignity,” he stated.

To institutionalize the association, Governor Otti directed the member representing Isialangwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, to collaborate with the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, in formalizing its structure.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the Association, Chief Tony Agbayim, expressed profound gratitude to the Governor for addressing what he described as years of neglect under successive administrations. He lamented the severe hardship endured by members, revealing that some former councillors lost their lives during the prolonged wait for their entitlements.

The association applauded Governor Otti’s broader commitment to workers’ welfare, citing the regular payment of salaries and pensions, alongside ongoing infrastructural transformation across the state, as evidence of purposeful governance.

In his remarks, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, commended the Governor’s responsiveness and urged the councillors to align with a political movement he described as being guided by conscience, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to justice.

Also speaking, Chief Ginger Onwusibe and the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Augustine Okezie, lauded Governor Otti for transcending partisan considerations in prioritizing the welfare of the former councillors. They encouraged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by offering sustained grassroots support.

The event culminated in the endorsement of Governor Otti by the former elected councillors as their sole candidate in his future political aspirations, underscoring their confidence in his leadership and reform-driven agenda.