…Says governance not about sharing money to stakeholders
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State, has hinted of discriminatory salary in favour of teachers in the state.
The Governor who gave the hint while speaking at Arochukwu Day celebration said that the incentive was to attract teachers to the school system and boost their morale.
According to him, the new salary structure is designed to take effect from January 2025.
Otti said his administration which devoted 20 per cent of the state’s budget to education both in the 2024 and 2025 budgets, would continue to give attention to the critical sector.
He said: “We have also started retrofitting and renovating some schools. I believe that a lot of schools in Arochukwu Local Government will benefit from these projects. Our schools will look a particular way. When you enter a public school in Abia State, you will know you have come to a school.”
“I also do know that a lot of schools don’t have qualified teachers. What we have done to attract people to the teaching profession is that from the year 2025, just a few days from today, teachers are going to be getting what I call a discriminatory compensation package. And what that means is that if a teacher was earning 20,000 before, he would be earning 50,000,” Governor Otti declared amidst applause from the happy crowd.
While announcing that renovation and retrofitting work has started at the General Hospitals across the state, the Governor disclosed that out of the 948 Primary Health Centers in the state, “200 are currently undergoing renovations and retrofitting, assuring that the remaining 748 will also be retrofitted.”
“There are 22 General Hospitals in Abia State and each of them is receiving our touch. There are 948 Primary Health Centers, and at the moment, 200 of them are being retrofitted,” the Governor stated.
Otti said that “governance is not about sharing money to the people but creating an enabling environment for the people to fend for themselves.”
Continuing he said, “one unique thing about the Igbo is that even if they are hungry, they don’t go to a place to beg for food but instead will ask to be given something to do so that they can work and make a living.”
While thanking the people of Arochukwu for their support to his administration, he promised more dividends of democracy across the State. He used the opportunity to mention some ongoing projects across the State initiated by his administration.
“About a year ago, when I was here, I promised that development will touch every part of Abia State.”
“I’m sure you were part of the flag-off of the road from Ohafia through Ututu-Ihechiowa to Arochukwu and then from Arochukwu to Ini. You can confirm that work is going on.”
“Last year, we also flagged off the Okobo road and those who took that road will also agree with us that work is going on very seriously. One thing you can take to the bank is that any job we start, we’ll finish it. In our dictionary, there is no abandoned project.”
