Otti Reaffirms Commitment to Education, Says Abia Allocates 20% of Budget to Sector

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reiterated his administration’s strong commitment to improving education in the state, stressing that deliberate investments are being made to reform the sector.

Otti made the remarks while receiving members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) East Regional Working Committee, led by the Regional Chairman and Enugu State Chairman of the union, Comrade Odo Nweke, at the Government House.

According to the governor, his administration has consistently allocated 20 percent of the state’s annual budget to education for the past three years, describing the move as a deliberate strategy to achieve lasting improvements in the sector.

“We are very intentional about education because we know the outcomes we expect,” Otti said. “None of us would probably be sitting here today if we were not educated. That is why, for the last three years, we have consistently committed one-fifth of our budget to education, and it will continue that way.”

He explained that the government’s focus on education has led to the renovation and construction of schools, improved remuneration for teachers, recruitment of new teachers, and continuous training for educators.

The governor also expressed satisfaction with the positive impact of the investments made so far, noting improvements in school enrolment and student performance across the state.

“We monitor school enrolment and the performance of students in different areas. We work deliberately to ensure that the outcomes we desire are achieved,” he said.

Otti assured the visiting NUT delegation that their requests would be considered, while thanking them for acknowledging his administration’s efforts to transform the education sector.

Earlier, Comrade Nweke commended the governor for what he described as significant strides in improving the welfare of teachers and strengthening education in Abia State.

He explained that the East Regional Working Committee represents teachers from the nine states of the old Eastern region and said the visit was to appreciate the governor’s achievements.

“We have heard much about Dr. Alex Otti and considered it necessary to come and say thank you,” Nweke said. “Allocating 20 percent of the annual budget to education, the recruitment of 5,394 teachers, and the ongoing recruitment of another 4,000 are commendable.”

He also highlighted the regular payment of teachers’ salaries, settlement of 17 months’ salary arrears owed by the previous administration, the construction of smart schools, and the approval of 65 years as the retirement age for teachers.

Other officials present during the visit included the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole; Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi; Special Adviser on Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu; Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Samuel Obinna Igwe; and Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Lady Lydia Onuoha, among others.