Written By: Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA – Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.

Part Two.

As an Economist, Gov. Otti has demonstrated that he understands the economics of regular payment of salaries and pensions to stimulate the economy and drive commercial activities. Gov. Otti is not only paying salaries and pensions promptly, he is also defraying arrears of salaries and pensions owed to workers and retirees by his predecessor.

1. ABSUTH workers who were owed 26 months salary arrears have been paid 25 months of the arrears while regularly and promptly receiving current salaries and entitlements.
2. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic (Formerly Abiapoly) workers who were owed salary arrears of 33 months but now receive 3 months’ salaries monthly to defray and clear the outstanding arrears of salaries.
3. Abia State University with outstanding 12 months arrears of salaries have been defrayed.
4. Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu with years of arrears of salaries and Secondary Education Management Board among others are being defrayed.

Gov. Otti also declared a state of emergency on waste disposal and management, investing huge resources in cleaning the cities and environments to make them habitable and healthy for living. Our people now breathe fresh and healthy air, saving them resources that would have been spent on hospitals and medications. All the above intervention by Governor Alex Otti may not qualify as giving or sharing ‘SHISHI,’ but it is obviously giving or putting Naira in people’s pockets. Gov. Otti’s policies empower Abians through economic opportunities rather than handouts or free meals.

Governor Otti’s initiatives are transforming Abia State. His infrastructural revolution, including road construction and reconstruction, has reduced transportation costs and saved commuters money. For instance, transport fares along the Ohanku Road corridor have dropped from N800 to N200, and from N1,200 to N300 along Port Harcourt Road and Alaoji corridors, saving and putting back an average of N1,200 into people’s pockets daily while saving transporters and vehicle owners the huge and regular cost of vehicle maintenance. The reconstructed Umuahia to Ohafia Highway leading to Arochukwu has made travel experience seamless and cheaper, saving transporters and vehicle owners fuel cost, man-hour on the road and high cost of regular maintenance of vehicle.

Governor Otti No Dey Give ‘SHISHI’ E Dey Give ‘NAIRA’

…To be continued.

August 3rd, 2025.