Governor Otti Settles N17.63 Billion in Salary Arrears for Abia Institutions
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has begun paying off N17.63 billion in salary arrears owed to workers of state institutions, a promise made by his administration. This payment, covering institutions like Abia State University and Abia State Polytechnic, will be distributed over 12 months to avoid disrupting other governmental functions. Governor Otti has allocated N1.5 billion monthly to address the total arrears of N18 billion, aiming to resolve long-standing wage issues and improve worker satisfaction in the state.
Faith Orji 
In a significant move to address longstanding salary arrears, Abia State Governor Alex Otti has commenced the payment of N17.63 billion owed to workers of various state institutions. This action follows his administration’s commitment to clearing the debts inherited from previous administrations.
According to a statement from the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, the payment covers arrears for several key institutions, including Abia State University Uturu, Abia State Polytechnic Aba, Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu, Abia State Teaching Hospital Aba, and the Health Management Board Umuahia. The payment also extends to other state-owned entities such as the College of Health Sciences Aba, the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Secondary Education Management Board.
Kanu revealed that the Accountant General’s office has started disbursing the arrears, totaling N17,629,767,342.09. This payment will be managed through a 12-month amortization plan to prevent disruption in other areas of governance due to financial constraints. The initial tranche has already been distributed to the affected institutions.
Chief Press Secretary Ukoha Njoku Ukoha further confirmed the payment, noting that Governor Otti has allocated N1.5 billion monthly to progressively clear the total arrears of N18 billion. The governor expressed satisfaction with the positive response from Abia workers and highlighted the administration’s dedication to ensuring that such salary issues are resolved efficiently.
Previously, former Finance Commissioner Mike Akpara had outlined the plan to address the salary arrears in phases, ensuring that the clearing of debts would not impede other essential areas of the state’s economy. He noted that past administrations had left substantial arrears, including 33 months’ worth for Abia State Polytechnic, 22 months for the College of Education Arochukwu, and 11 months for Abia State University, along with significant debts for the Hospital Management Board and other agencies.
With this proactive approach, Governor Otti’s administration aims to eliminate the issue of unpaid wages and bring a new era of financial stability and worker satisfaction in Abia State.
