Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has debunked rumour that his administration is planning to lay off workers in the state, describing the rumour as the handiwork of mischief makers.
Otti who made the rebuttal while responding to a question during a media parley Friday night in Umuahia, said that instead of retrenchment, his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of Abia workers.
He said: “There is no any massive retrenchment in the pipeline. We will continue to ensure that the civil service is enhanced and productivity increased.”
Otti, therefore, urged members of the public to disregard the unfounded rumour.
Gov. Otti re-emphasised his commitment to clearing arrears of salaries owed some institutions in the state.
“The debts were inherited and I will pay them. In a few days, those payments wil happen,” Gov. Otti assured.
Governor Alex Otti explained that the Labour Party stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia recently was a bid to restore peace in the party.
He added that anyone that followed what happened would notice that people are happy over the outcome of the meeting.
“I believe that what we did was in the interest of the party. We have a vested interest in ensuring that the party will continue to operate as a political party in Nigeria.”
Responding to a recent outburst by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu that Otti would be the last LP Governor in Abia, the Governor said there was no sense commenting on 2027 matters.
“I chose to not to respond to it because it’s foolhardy to talk about what will happen tomorrow. Power belongs to God and He gives it to who He wills.”
Otti said last week’s establishment of eye care centre at Amachara Specialist Hospital annex, was part of his administration’s agenda to revolutionalise the health sector.
He said that the phase 2 of upgrading ABSUTH for optimal service delivery had commenced.
He added that 200 primary healthcare centres in the state had been earmarked for renovation.
The Governor said that the project would be actualised within 100 days.
“The whole idea is to ensure that wherever you live or come from, you will have a primary healthcare centre that will cater for your health.”
On education, the Governor reported that government has commenced training of 2000 master trainers of teachers who would in turn train others. He added that another group is equally saddled with the responsibility of looking at the curricula for pupils in the state.
He also informed the people that he is not resting on his oars in the area of environmental sanitation and revealed that his government is planning to do a project of turning waste into wealth and solicited support of all and sundry.
