Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has revelled that his administration will constitute the Abia Global Economic Advisory Board (GEAB), to help take Abia state to the world as a preferred investment destination.
Gov. Otti made this revelation in his New Year message to Abians, titled “A journey of great expectations” and called on Abians to embrace the New Year with great hope, optimism and confidence.
He said that the year 2024 will be a year of consolidation of the gains made in the past 7 months of his administration.
Gov. Otti said that technology which has been at the heart of the transformation and reform agenda of his administration, shall move to a new gear in 2024, adding that with digitalization of the operation of public institutions, we will leverage the advantages of technology to drive state human capital development, economic empowerment for the youths and most importantly job creations.
He announced that plans are almost concluded for the upward review of workers’ salaries to fit into the prevailing economic realities.
“We shall review the salaries of all the employees upwards to reflect the economic realities of the time. Work on it is in the final stages”
On his promise to defray arrears of pensions in the State before the end of 2023, the Governor explained “It is unfortunate to report that a few challenges have conspired to ensure that we are unable to keep this promise. Based on the figures available to us, we had arranged the funds to make good this promise, however, before making the payment we decided to conduct a digital verification of the pensioners, to our alter shock, we found that there were pensioners who had been owed since
2014.
“At the end of the exercise, just a week ago, the total figure required for the payment was twice the amount we had provided. While we continue to engage the National Union of Pensioners, we believe we will be able to make the payment before the end of the first quarter of this New Year. If required, we may go back to the House of Assembly for necessary approval to ensure that this payment is made,” Gov. Otti explained.
He equally informed that his government will continue its strategic investments in the education and health sectors.
“Our commitment is to close the funding gap in education and health in the first instance and then see that funds are channelled to meet the most pressing needs of the sectors.”
He listed improved security, road infrastructure, regular payment of salaries, reinvigoration of the health sector, restoration of security, effective urban management, and support to the economically vulnerable among other achievements that speak volumes that he is on a mission to restore and rebuild.
The Governor noted that a whopping 84 per cent of the 2024 budget has been earmarked for capital projects which include rebuilding and remodelling of schools and hospitals as well as build a world-class health village to stem the tide of medical tourism.
The governor encouraged citizens to sustain their support by paying their taxes as well as cooperating with security agencies in the State to achieve the needed security and wished Abians a happy New Year.