6th April, 2024
…Never again shall we have backlog of pension arrears in Abia, Otti vows
By Leonard Okachie
Gov. Alex Otti said he has fulfilled his promise to pay off all the pension arrears being owed retirees when he assumed office on May 29, 2023, promised with over N9 billion out of the N10 billion set aside for the exercise expended.
Otti, disclosed this during the monthly media chat in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State.
He also revealed that all the pensions and arrears of about 12,500 retirees were cleared as at last Thursday.
He recalled that his administration had, after assuming office on May 29, 2023, promised to pay off all the pension arrears by the end of that year.
The Governor however lamented that the very difficult verification exercise of the retirees ended just a few weeks ago.
The governor promised that, moving forward, pensioners would receive 100 per cent of their entitlements on or before 28th of every month.
“As we are paying 100 per cent of salaries we will also pay 100 per cent of pensions.
“Never again shall we have a backlog of pensions and arrears to be paid,” Otti vowed.
The governor said that his administration would continue to place high premium on the healthcare delivery system in the state.
He said that the government, in collaboration with a group, had engaged over 80 medical doctors who would provide free medical services in the state.
Otti said that the medical personnel who had already started arriving in the state, would carry out surgeries and other forms of treatments in the next couple of days.
The governor assured that the government had provided logistics, especially for residents coming from outside the state capital, Umuahia.
He urged the people to take advantage of the free exercise and have their heath checked.
Otti said that his administration would continue with its programme of retrofitting the 948 primary health care centres in the state.
The governor also spoke on a variety of issues concerning the development of the state, while responding to questions from journalists.
(NAN)