…As ABSECTA regains accreditation of 80 programmes
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti says he is considering paying the N60 billion gratuity arrears owed Abia pensioners in installments.
He also disclosed that over 27,980 applications had been received for only 4,000 teaching positions in public primary and secondary schools across the state.
Similarly, Otti announced that the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (ABSECTA), which lost accreditation some years ago, has now regained it.
Speaking during a media parley Thursday night in Umuahia, Otti said the committee set up to review the accumulated pension arrears had submitted its report.
He acknowledged that the outstanding amount was huge but stressed that his administration would still have to find a way to offset it, despite not incurring the debt.
“The joint committee that was set up by the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and this administration has just handed in a report. Recall that after appeals were made, we decided to look at it again. We have done that now.
“It is disheartening that the pension has remained outstanding since 2001. From the report we saw, it is in excess of N60 billion. That is a large number. So, I am going to take a decision very soon.
“But the way my mind is working is that we will have to begin the payment gradually because these are debts dating back over 20 years.”
On the surge in applications for teaching jobs, Otti said he was astonished by the number received since the recruitment portal opened two weeks ago.
He explained that he approved the recruitment of an additional 4,000 teachers after realizing that the 5,000 recently engaged were still insufficient due to rising enrollment following the free-education policy introduced last year.
Otti also said he had directed that newly recruited teachers who were omitted from the November salary payment be paid not later than Sunday.
“I was made to understand that there was a glitch in the payment of the newly recruited teachers. We have asked everybody involved in the process to ensure that they cannot have a weekend without paying them. So, latest by the end of Sunday, all the people who are affected will receive all their pay.
“We opened the portal about two weeks ago to recruit an additional 4,000 teachers. As we speak, we have received a total of 27,980 applications. We were supposed to give 8,000.”
He assured that due process would be followed in the recruitment exercise and that only competent candidates would be hired.
“We will go through the process like we did the first time to ensure that the recruitment is transparently done. One thing I would like to assure you is that the process cannot be manipulated.
“You can go to sleep knowing full well that if you qualify, you will be taken. If you do not qualify, no matter who you know, you will not be taken.”
Otti further disclosed that the process of recruiting 770 medical personnel was almost concluded, although one critical area still required more hands.
“We will continue the process until we get the right number of people,” he added.
On workers’ welfare, the governor restated his commitment to prioritizing the payment of salaries, entitlements and pensions, promising that Abia workers would continue to receive their salaries no later than the 28th of every month.
On the restoration of accreditation at ABSECTA, Otti said about 80 programmes that had been previously de-recognized were now accredited.
“I am happy to report that the College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, which lost accreditation a few years ago, this afternoon, had about 84 courses accredited.
“So, we are now ready to run the College the way we planned. If you visit there recently, you will see the massive work going on—on the roofs, lecture theatres and classrooms. The whole idea is to make it a home for the proper training of our teachers.”
