…Gives new dealine to clear pension, workers’ salary arrears
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has cleared the air over allegations that his administration obtained N144 billion loan, describing the allegation as a total falsehood.
Otti who spoke during a media parley Monday night, however, admitted there were plans by his administration to go for loans to be able to finance the state’s 2024 budget.
The Governor who said that he had not obtained any loan since he came on board nine months ago, however, explained that the State had received approval for a $125 million loan facility from Islamic Development Bank.
He added that the state had not drawn the loan as the necessary documentations were still being done.
The Governor who said he had received approval for loans from another bank, declared that due process must be followed in obtaining the loans.
Otti who further said that the state had been receiving loan offers from many other commercial banks, assured judicious disbursement of the funds when they are eventually drawn.
The Governor said that his administration would not blindly take loans that would mortgage the future of the state but ensure loans are tied to projects.
“We are financially enlightened as a state that we will not draw any loan until we need it,” he said.
On the alleged N144 billion loan, Otti said those behind the report were mischief makers out to discredit his administration.
He challenged them to produce any document to back up their claims.
“It’s either they are ignorant or mischievous, or both,” Otti said.
“We have plans to secure loan and they are at maturity stage,” Otti added, but insisted that non had been drawn.
The Governor, therefore, urged members of the public to disregard the unfounded blackmail.
Speaking further, Otti assured that the issue of the lingering arrears of workers’ salary and pension would soon be resolved.
“We will soon resolve the lingering pension issues by the end of this month. We have secured approvals, and very soon the pensioners will hear from us,”,l he declared.
Recall that Otti, had during his inaugural speech, promised to defray the backlog of pension and salary arrears of workers before the end of December 2023.
But the deadline was later shifted to the first quarter of 2024 shortly after the biometric data verification of both workers and pensioners, citing the enormity of funds needed to liquidate the arrears.
The development had heightened anxiety and fears among workers and pensioners.
Responding to a question on complaints that some workers were not being paid, the Governor said the challenge would soon be sorted out.
He said that he had already scheduled a meeting with the Accountant General of the state and other stakeholders to iron out the bottlenecks.
The Governor, however, said that the number of workers involved in the commission, was not much, adding that majority of the 66,000 Abia workforce receive their salaries on the 28th of every month.
