Abia State Government Moves To Free Minor Offenders, Reviews 20-Year Gratuity Backlog
... Secures College Accreditation
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has announced sweeping interventions covering correctional centres, gratuity arrears, teachers’ recruitment, institutional accreditation, security, and infrastructure development during his November edition of “Governor Otti Speaks” in Umuahia.
Otti revealed that his administration is making renewed efforts to identify minor offenders across correctional centres in the state for possible pardon during the Christmas season.
He said the state government had met with the Zonal Commandant of the Nigerian Correctional Service to review ongoing improvements in correctional facilities, including newly erected perimeter fences and the construction of a one-storey holding centre aimed at decongesting overcrowded cells.
According to the governor, the intention is not to detain more people but to ensure inmates do not leave the centres as hardened criminals.
He disclosed that despite attempts in the last two years to apply the prerogative of mercy, no minor offenders were found among the 1,900-plus inmates due to the gravity of their offences.
He has, however, ordered a fresh review to identify eligible candidates for pardon before the end of the year.
Governor Otti also confirmed receiving the report of the joint committee of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and the Abia State Government on outstanding gratuities dating back to 2001.
The verified backlog now exceeds ₦60 billion, a figure Otti described as “disheartening.”
He assured pensioners that his administration will announce a phased payment plan soon while reiterating that workers’ salaries and pensions remain up-to-date.
In a major educational milestone, the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, has secured accreditation for 24 courses that were previously lost under past administrations.
Otti announced that the institution is undergoing massive infrastructural transformation, including upgrades to classrooms, lecture theatres, hostels and internal roads to restore its role as a premier teacher-training centre.
He also disclosed additional buildings completed at the permanent site of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, which will soon be commissioned. The Polytechnic has been producing ASEPA refuse buckets currently used across the state.
On education recruitment, Otti said 27,980 applicants have applied in the ongoing second batch of teachers’ recruitment, though only 4,000 will be employed.
He assured that the process will remain fully merit-based and immune to political influence.
“What I will assure you is that the process of employment cannot be manipulated under my watch. If you qualify, you will be employed,” he said.
The governor also confirmed that glitches affecting payment for newly-recruited teachers in the first batch are being resolved, with salaries expected to be cleared this weekend.
Otti urged residents to remain vigilant during the festive season, noting regular consultations with service commanders to keep the state safe.
“As a government, we are doing everything necessary to ensure a secure environment. Intelligence is key. Give information, take charge of your own security and don’t fear,” he said.
• Electric buses purchased by the state have begun arriving and will hit the roads before year-end, helping to reduce transportation costs.
• The state has issued 30,562 Certificates of Occupancy in two and a half years — a figure he described as unprecedented and made possible by automating the process.
• The government is concluding plans to acquire the Umuahia power distribution network to effectively utilize excess power generated in Aba.
• On revenue enforcement, the governor explained that the sealing of some businesses followed due process, including issuance of demand notices and court orders.
Governor Otti announced improved welfare for corps members serving in Abia. The long-standing ₦4,000 state allowance has been raised to between ₦20,000 and ₦50,000 depending on location.
The NYSC camp in Bende has also received water facilities, street lighting and internal road upgrades.
Abiakam
Abia State Moves To Free Minor Offenders, Reviews 20-Year Gratuity Backlog
… Secures College Accreditation
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has announced sweeping interventions covering correctional centres, gratuity arrears, teachers’ recruitment, institutional accreditation, security, and infrastructure development during his November edition of “Governor Otti Speaks” in Umuahia.
Otti revealed that his administration is making renewed efforts to identify minor offenders across correctional centres in the state for possible pardon during the Christmas season.
He said the state government had met with the Zonal Commandant of the Nigerian Correctional Service to review ongoing improvements in correctional facilities, including newly erected perimeter fences and the construction of a one-storey holding centre aimed at decongesting overcrowded cells.
According to the governor, the intention is not to detain more people but to ensure inmates do not leave the centres as hardened criminals.
He disclosed that despite attempts in the last two years to apply the prerogative of mercy, no minor offenders were found among the 1,900-plus inmates due to the gravity of their offences.
He has, however, ordered a fresh review to identify eligible candidates for pardon before the end of the year.
Governor Otti also confirmed receiving the report of the joint committee of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and the Abia State Government on outstanding gratuities dating back to 2001.
The verified backlog now exceeds ₦60 billion, a figure Otti described as “disheartening.”
He assured pensioners that his administration will announce a phased payment plan soon while reiterating that workers’ salaries and pensions remain up-to-date.
In a major educational milestone, the Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, has secured accreditation for 24 courses that were previously lost under past administrations.
Otti announced that the institution is undergoing massive infrastructural transformation, including upgrades to classrooms, lecture theatres, hostels and internal roads to restore its role as a premier teacher-training centre.
He also disclosed additional buildings completed at the permanent site of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, which will soon be commissioned. The Polytechnic has been producing ASEPA refuse buckets currently used across the state.
On education recruitment, Otti said 27,980 applicants have applied in the ongoing second batch of teachers’ recruitment, though only 4,000 will be employed.
He assured that the process will remain fully merit-based and immune to political influence.
“What I will assure you is that the process of employment cannot be manipulated under my watch. If you qualify, you will be employed,” he said.
The governor also confirmed that glitches affecting payment for newly-recruited teachers in the first batch are being resolved, with salaries expected to be cleared this weekend.
Otti urged residents to remain vigilant during the festive season, noting regular consultations with service commanders to keep the state safe.
“As a government, we are doing everything necessary to ensure a secure environment. Intelligence is key. Give information, take charge of your own security and don’t fear,” he said.
• Electric buses purchased by the state have begun arriving and will hit the roads before year-end, helping to reduce transportation costs.
• The state has issued 30,562 Certificates of Occupancy in two and a half years — a figure he described as unprecedented and made possible by automating the process.
• The government is concluding plans to acquire the Umuahia power distribution network to effectively utilize excess power generated in Aba.
• On revenue enforcement, the governor explained that the sealing of some businesses followed due process, including issuance of demand notices and court orders.
Governor Otti announced improved welfare for corps members serving in Abia. The long-standing ₦4,000 state allowance has been raised to between ₦20,000 and ₦50,000 depending on location.
The NYSC camp in Bende has also received water facilities, street lighting and internal road upgrades.
