Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has provided an explanation for the delay in settling the arrears of pensions owed to retired civil servants by the end of 2023. Despite his initial assurance to clear the backlog of arrears owed to pensioners in the state by previous administrations, Otti revealed in his New Year message titled “A Journey of Great Expectations” that unforeseen challenges had prevented the fulfillment of this promise. He stated that the necessary funds had been arranged, but a digital verification of the pensioners revealed a larger number of individuals owed since 2014 than initially anticipated. This led to a significant increase in the total amount required for the payment. Otti expressed confidence in making the payment before the end of the first quarter of the new year, with the possibility of seeking necessary approvals from the house of assembly if required.

Governor Otti also highlighted the government's commitment to prioritizing regular payment of salaries and pensions, ensuring that workers and retirees receive their entitlements on time. He announced plans to review the salaries of all state government employees upwards to reflect current economic realities, with the final stages of this initiative already underway.

Looking ahead to 2024, Otti described it as a year of “great cycle” for Abians, emphasizing the state's progress and the emerging sense of optimism about its future. He outlined plans for investment in critical sectors to stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and revive local businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Additionally, the governor emphasized the importance of technology in the state's transformation agenda, with a focus on digitizing public institutions for improved service delivery.

Otti urged citizens to fulfill their civic responsibilities, including regular payment of taxes and reporting suspected criminal activities to the security agencies. He warned against harboring criminals, stating that any tolerance or support for crime would be viewed as an act of sabotage, and the government would take necessary action to protect the lives and property of the citizens.

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