—Says ABSU Lecturers Have Been Paid Their Salaries Up To Date—
The Executive Governor of Abia State Dr Alex Otti says his Administration has in the last one year Reconstructed and Rebuilt 16 Roads in the state and currently working on another 16 roads with a total length of 175 Kilometers accross the three Senatorial Zones in Abia State.
Governor Otti who stated this on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Abia State Government House Umuahia during his Monthly Media Chat with Journalists in Abia State Tagged” Governor Otti Speaks to Abians” also said his administration has reawarded OHANKU Road Aba and work is currently ongoing as the Contractors has been given a time frame to complete the Road Project.
The Governor appreciated Abians over the support given to his administration in the last one year.
“A few weeks ago precisely on the 29th of May 2024 we celebrated the First Anniversary of this Government, I want to thank all those who participated in the celebration even though as we promised, we didn’t make it an elaborate but dedicated it for the commissioning of Projects and flagging off of new Roads, during the time we Commissioned Old Court Road Aba, Ehi Road Aba that we reconstructed , infact by Direct Labour and the other one by Contract, we had the Imperial Majesty the Obi Of Onitsha joined us to commission those roads “
“On the 27th Of May, We commissioned the green avenue, College Road and also flagged off the Central Bus Terminal at Aba, we subsequently commissioned the Former OSSAH road which was named after General JTU Aguiyi Ironsi and of course the renovated the Okpara Square those were done by the former Number two man of this Country who happens to be our son and father Chief Commr. Ebitu Ukiwe who also came in person to do us that honour and thereafter we proceeded to the Umuahia Central Terminal and Distinguished Senator Chris Adighije did us the honour to Flag it Off ,and there we proceeded to Ogurube Layout to commission the Completed JAAC building the building that was started by the administration of former Governor Theodore Orji but abandoned mid way, we were able to complete it and commission it”
“At the last count We have completed the reconstruction and fixing of 90 roads which were in different stages of dilapidation, all the roads were done by the Ministry of Works through a Direct Labour “
“We have Reconstructed and rebuilt 16 roads and we are working on another 16Roads with total length of 175 Kilometers, running through the Senatorial Zones of the State”
“We have rewarded the very difficult Ohanku roads in Aba, we felt that the state of the road requires that we apply regid Pavement Technology, for those who have visited that road, you will understand that work has started in Ohanku Road Aba”
“We are very strategic with roads because we believe that access is key to a prime economy, we have a plan to touch every Local Government Area with Projects in the next on year”
Governor Otti said his government will soon approach the Abia State House of Assembly for Virement since it’s clear that his administration is running faster than the 2024 budget.
On Education, the Governor revealed that his administration is working hard to ensure that the schools which was left in ruins by the previous administration are Renovated to a quality Standard.
He revealed that Lecturers at the Abia State University Uturu has been paid salaries up to date.
“As at this afternoon, every member of Staff of Abia State University has received their Salaries up to date, anyone who hasn’t received may be having problems with his or her bank”
In Agriculture the Governor said his Administration has dispatched 300 Men and women of Abia State to Nassarawa state where they are undergoing Sophisticated training at CSS Farms, according to him, these 300 persons were drawn from the 184 Electoral Wards in the state.
On Health Care,Governor Otti said his administration will continue to work very hard to retrieve that sector for the good of Abia people.
“We don’t want to lose sleep in all the primary health care center, they will receive attention, we are taking them in batches but we want our Primary Health centers to be working”
The Governor whole speaking on Security said his administration is working very hard with Security agencies yo ensure that those who killed five soldiers in Aba on the 30th of May are brought to book.
“On Security, all of us knows that this Government takes Security very serious , Unfortunately there was a breach on the 30th of May, we all know the story, but the most important thing we have to say is that it wasn’t worse than that, but we will ensure that every one who was involved in the murder of those five soldiers are brought to book”
“I visited the family of the deceased and I placed a Bounty on the criminals and we are making positive progress and suffice it to say that nobody connected to this crime will go unpunished”
“We are getting criminal reports in Aba and Umuahia we have given sufficient warning and we are not warning anyone again, from this Night you will see what will happen, our resolve is stronger than ever” he said.
The Governor while responding to a question over his hosting of Promoters of South East University when there was a Bill to turn Abia State College of Education to a University, said the request of South East University Promoters was to launch from the Abia State College of Education Arochukwu
“My engagement with the College of Education shows that they have a large land to accommodate them”
“The Abia State College of Education Technical remains so it won’t be renamed to South East University”he said.
On the issue of Suspension of his Appointees, the Governor said it was about Suspension and nothing more.
“There is nothing untoward about suspending someone holding a position when an allegation has been made with a prima facie case established “
The Governor maintained that his policy is that once election are over, governance takes the centre stage
“This afternoon, I received the Former Governor who is the Senator Representing Abia North State who came to visit us”
“The other day I was hosted by the People’s Democratic Party in the occasion of the Birthday of Senator Wabara”
“I want to remark that we do not have any issue with those who criticize us, like someone said you are entitled to your Opinion but what you are not entitled is your own state of Facts”
On the Welfare of Civil Servants in Abia State , the Governor said his thoughts was at least the greatest welfare for Civil Servants is that they are now receiving their salaries every 28th of the Month.
“Workers are now receiving their salaries on the 28th of every Month, as announced we are waiting an announcement at the Center to implement the minimum wage”
“At the last EXCO meeting,I had instructed the Head of Service and Chairman of Civil Service Commission to look into the issue of promotion and I think the last time Promotion was done was in 2021 , we are not ignoring it”
“Sometimes when civil Servants speak, they must understand that they represent a small percentage of the state, when we are building roads we are building for everyone and Civil Servants will be part of it”He said
The Governor maintained that he was not elected Governor for personal aggrandizement but to work for the people.
“No Project will be named After me, we are not here for self aggrandizement, anyone you want to call Legacy Projects you are Free”
The Governor said his administration will conduct the Local Government election when it’s prepared as the law permits a Governor to appoint Transition Committees for the local government Area in the absence of an election.
