Gov Otti’s administration faces growing pressure following claims made during monthly interactive session | #NwokeukwuMascot

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Otti's Claims on Workforce Retrenchment, Salary Payments Contradict Official Documents, Reports from Revenue Contractors and Town Planning Commission | #NwokeukwuMascot

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Governor Alex Otti has come under scrutiny following conflicting statements about the status of government employees and salary payments in Abia State. In a letter signed by  Joy Maduka, the Head of Service (HoS), whom Otti had earlier forced into compulsory retirement, it was revealed that certain workers employed in 2022 and 2023 had indeed been dismissed.

This revelation directly contradicts Otti's public statements, made during his monthly interactive session with journalists last Friday, where he claimed no such action had been taken.

“There will be no mass retrenchment. I have not even thought about it. We do not have any such plans. We will continue to ensure that our civil service is enhanced. There is no excuse for truancy, as everyone is being paid before the end of every month. We do not tolerate absence from work,” Otti declared.

Additionally, the governor asserted that his administration has consistently paid civil servants since he assumed office, boasting of his efforts to address inherited debts.

However, he also admitted that some workers have been left unpaid, prompting him to initiate an investigation with the state’s Accountant General.

“I will personally take up investigations with the Accountant General to find out why some persons did not receive salaries. We have made provisions for everyone's salary to be paid as and when due,” Otti remarked. 

This statement, however, contradicts his earlier claim of not owing any staff during his one-year tenure. “We have been here for close to 15 months, and we have been paying back debts that were inherited. I have never owed anybody since I took office,” the governor stated.

The fallout from these conflicting statements has created confusion among Abia State residents, with some noting additional issues within the administration. 

The Town Planning Commission, for example, has reportedly been scrapped, which has stalled the launch of the Governor's flagship initiative, the Greater Aba Development Agenda (GADA). Staff from the commission, who left with key planning documents, have been cited as a major obstacle to the project’s progress.

Moreover, reports have surfaced that revenue contractors working for the state have also been laid off and more to leave, with the government allegedly failing to pay the agreed commisions owed to them. Despite this, the administration continues to use their resources, including systems and templates, to generate revenue.

Governor Otti’s administration now faces increasing pressure to clarify these contradictions and address the growing discontent among affected workers and contractors in Abia State.

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