By Gabriella Ogbu

The Abia State Government has announced its commitment to clearing outstanding salary arrears owed to staff at various tertiary institutions in the state, totaling approximately 18 billion naira. This significant financial obligation, accrued under the previous administration, is set to be addressed with a structured payment plan beginning in August.

Prince Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, shared the details during a press briefing following this week’s Executive Council meeting, which was led by Governor Alex Otti. According to Kanu, the government will disburse 1.5 billion naira monthly over the next year to settle these arrears.

Additionally, the government has taken immediate steps to address salary payment issues at Abia State University (ABSU). A recent meeting between Governor Otti, the University’s Vice Chancellor, and the Governing Council focused on resolving the financial concerns of ABSU staff. During this meeting, the Governor instructed the Accountant General to expedite the payment of all overdue salaries within a week, regardless of whether they had been verified.

“The Governor’s intervention was crucial in resolving these long-standing issues. He directed that the verification team be relocated to ABSU to expedite the verification process,” Kanu explained.

He also highlighted that salaries for the months of April, May, and June have already been paid, underscoring the Governor’s dedication to improving the welfare of university employees—a commitment that, according to Kanu, surpasses efforts made by previous administrations.

In addition to addressing salary issues, Governor Otti has taken measures to enhance the operational efficiency of tertiary institutions. He has directed the Accountant General to work with heads of institutions to streamline their overhead expenditure needs to better align with the government’s support.

The security of public schools has also been prioritized. Governor Otti has instructed the Senior Special Adviser on Homeland Security to collaborate with the Ministry of Education to deploy security personnel across all schools, ensuring round-the-clock protection. This initiative is part of the broader strategy to safeguard lives and secure financial investments in the education sector.

Mr. Mike Akpara, Commissioner of Finance, clarified the exact amount of arrears to be settled. He confirmed that the total arrears amount to 17 billion, six hundred and twenty-nine million, seven hundred and sixty-seven thousand, three hundred and forty-two naira, nine kobo. He also specified that the monthly payment required to clear the arrears for ABSU staff is one billion, four hundred and sixty-nine million, one hundred forty-seven thousand, two hundred and seventy-eight naira, and twenty kobo.

In response to concerns about recent security incidents, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, addressed the situation in Aba. He reported that criminals involved in the incident were gathering weapons, but security forces had successfully neutralized two of their members. Ekeoma expressed regret over the unintended injuries to innocent bystanders caused by stray bullets and emphasized that security measures are in place to ensure the safety of citizens.

“The government is actively pursuing numerous security measures, including covert investigations, to hold accountable those behind the incidents and protect people and property across the state,” Ekeoma added.