Group exposes Otti government’s maladministration, issues 30 days ultimatum to rescue Abia

A pressure group, Abians for Good Governance (AGG), has criticised Governor Alex Otti’s administration for what they called a misleading portrayal of infrastructural development in Abia State on social and traditional media.

According to the group, Governor Otti’s administration has not started or completed a single kilometre of road construction in Abia State amid the online hype.

In a press conference held in Umuahia last week Tuesday, and titled “Call for Positive Change: A 30-Day Ultimatum to Rescue Abia,” AGG, led by its convener, Don Norman Obinna, acknowledged some improvements such as road repairs, retrofitting, repainting and expansion, but said “Abia State is far from the Eldorado some paid agents and government representatives promote online.”

The group also demanded the locations of the projects Governor Alex Otti claimed to have built across the state with ₦200 billion of taxpayer’s money.

AGG said that over the past 20 months, Abia State has received nearly ₦600 billion in revenues, including loans.

“However, rather than ensuring proper utilisation and accountability, the government has reportedly spent about N200 billion on projects that appear to be nonexistent,” the group said.

“This includes: ₦120 billion for road projects, ₦6.5 billion for recreational facilities, ₦14 billion for school projects and ₦3 billion for hospital projects.

“Others are ₦1.6 billion for agricultural facilities, ₦10 billion for research facilities, ₦3 billion for an ICT centre, ₦2 billion for law courts, ₦5 billion for office buildings, ₦7 billion for women’s development and ₦500 million for an electricity project, among others.”

AGG also faulted the government’s claims of increased benefits and consistent salary and pension payments, saying only about 60 per cent of workers and pensioners receive salaries and pensions in the state.

“Many civil servants and pensioners continue to struggle with endless verifications, unresolved salary issues, and pension arrears including non-implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, resulting in significant hardship for thousands,” the group during the press conference.

Furthermore, the group condemned the dismissal of over 20,000 civil servants, including Permanent Secretaries and Directors, by Otti’s government, highlighting that this has been done without the payment of their owed salaries and entitlements.

“This ill-conceived layoff has surged the unemployment rate in Abia State to 18.7%, making it the state with the highest unemployment rate in Nigeria, according to the National Bureau of Statistics Q1 2024 report,” AGG noted.

AGG further criticised Governor Otti for failing to fulfil his campaign promise to clear all pension arrears and gratuities by December 31, 2023, adding that the promise played a significant role in influencing the votes of Abians.

“Surprisingly, Governor Otti did not deliver on it. Instead, the administration began paying pensioners half of their pensions.

“By March 2024, the remaining half was paid, but the governor claimed that the pensioners had forfeited their rights to this payment through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they signed with the government.

“In response, pensioners issued a statement refuting the government’s claims and proposed alternative solutions that the government has yet to consider.

“This insensitivity has resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 pensioners who struggle to afford food and medication,” AGG stated.

AGG said the situation is particularly troubling given that documents indicate that the ₦15 billion approved for the payment of pension arrears had been signed off and released in 2023.

Additionally, AGG highlighted a few flag-offs, the beautification of roundabouts, the installation of streetlights, the reconstruction of 5.9 km of Port Harcourt Road in Aba, and the expansion of 3.4 km of Ossah Road (by an additional three meters on both sides) for ₦32 billion and ₦8.4 billion respectively, as the only conspicuous achievements of the Otti-led government.

Furthermore, AGG said with monthly FAAC/JAAC allocations rising to ₦16 billion since 2023 (up from an initial average of ₦7 billion), Abians had anticipated a change in fortune for workers, pensioners, and residents, along with substantial infrastructural development in Abia State.

“Unfortunately, the current government has failed to surpass the mediocre performances of past administrations,” the group stated.

AGG also questioned why the government has placed valuable revenue-generating assets, such as the Aba Garment and Shoe Factory, under lock and key, allowing costly machinery to deteriorate while the state faces alarming levels of poverty, unemployment, and insecurity.

They further queried the rationale behind the decision to dismiss the entire management team of the Aba Specialist Hospital, which was built and fully equipped by Otti’s predecessor, only to seal it immediately upon his inauguration.

AGG also expressed concern over the lack of genuine projects worth at least ₦10 million in any of the 17 local councils, eventhough local governments have received over ₦100 billion from the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) allocations.

The group attributes this issue to a controversial law which contradicts the Supreme Court ruling on LG autonomy, passed by the Abia State House of Assembly, which allows the Executive to form a committee that oversees local government funds.

AGG also criticised Governor Otti for conducting government business, holding Executive Council meetings, and governing Abia State from his residence in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South. They described this practice as a serious abuse of power, undermining engagement, accountability, and solidarity with the citizens.

To strengthen the connection between leadership and the people, AGG demanded the following:

(A) Payment of salaries and entitlements to dismissed workers, including Permanent Secretaries and Directors.

(B) Reversal of the forfeited pension arrears and payment of pension arrears and gratuities to retirees.

(C) Disclosure of the locations of various projects and facilities funded with taxpayers’ money, as detailed in the 2023 quarterly financial report.

(D) The governor should return to the Government House in Umuahia to conduct all government business and functions.

(E) Reopening of the Aba garment and shoe factories, as well as the Abia Specialist Hospital, for immediate use by artisans and patients.

(F) In compliance with the Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, dissolve the committee established to control and oversee local government funds, allowing elected chairmen access to their JAAC allocations.

AGG said they believe that 30 days is a reasonable timeframe for a responsive government to address these concerns and meet these six essential demands.

The group, therefore, issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Alex Otti-led government to fulfil these demands.

“We hope to witness transformative governance that aligns with the expectations and needs of our citizens.

“We all desire a thriving Abia, and it is our collective responsibility to work towards that vision. Together, we can advocate for positive change, ensuring that all Abians benefit from the state’s resources and opportunities,” the group added.