Former Elected Councillors in Abia State from 1999 to 2023, will soon heave a sigh of relief, as Governor Alex Otti has promised to commence the payment of the arrears of salaries and entitlements owed them, by previous administration’s, starting from end of February, 2026.
Governor Otti broke the cheering news on Sunday, at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia, during a meeting with the members of the Association of Elected Former Councillors in Abia State, numbering over 1000, led by Tony. Agbanyim, their State Coordinator.
The governor, who said that the payments would be done in batches, clarified that he is not defraying the accumulated entitlements for political reasons.
“So, I’m told that everything should be set by the end of this month. So, what that means is that by the end of this month, we will start the payment in batches.
“The reason why we are doing this is not politics. Our political party is there. But quite frankly, whether you are a member of my party or you are not, you will be treated fairly and equally,'” Gov. Otti assured.
The governor, while thanking them for their kind words in appreciation of his modest achievements in office and for endorsing him for 2027 election, said that he decided to pay them their arrears of entitlements, because it was the right thing to do, emphasizing that his administration will always do the right thing, but will never do the wrong no matter the pressure and whose ox is gored.
The governor stated that the essence of leadership is to solve problems.
In his words, “So, when this proposal came to me, I didn’t actually know about it.. We try to solve all the problems that we met. When you are given a position of leadership which I have defined as stewardship, it is for you to solve problems.”
He thanked those, who had gone to court to seek justice for withdrawing the matter when his administration decided to step in to ensure that they get what is due to them, which they were denied, by past administrations.
“And then, when we looked at everything, we found that there was need to do a little bit more work. Some people were in courts, some people had been paid based on court orders. I said, okay, let’s harmonise all these.
“Bring out all the matters in court, because when people go to court, they feel injured, they feel treated unjustly.
“So, since we are going to deal with everything, all the matters in court should be brought out. And I want to thank all of you, because I’m told that, there’s no matter in court anymore.
“Everyone of them has been brought out. And that builds confidence, because you haven’t been paid, but you already have chosen the path of reconciliation,” Governor Otti stated.
Darlington Nwokocha, National Secretary of the Labour Party, thanked the Governor for agreeing to hold the interface with the elected former councillors and assured the former Councillors that Governor Otti’s promise is as good as done, as his yes is yes and no is no.
He urged them to support the Governor, who is working for all without discrimination, to enable him consolidate his achievements beyond 2027.
Nwokocha, disclosed that soon, the Labour Party, would start registration, and invited the former councillors to identify with the Party.
Uzor Nwachukwu, Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, regretted that those the that the former Councillors served under their administrations denied them their rights, but thanked God for raising a compassionate leader like Governor Alex Otti, who is committed to changing the narratives and righting the wrongs of the past.
Nwachukwu, thanked them for their dedicated service to the State in the past, and expressed the hope that working with them would assist the Governor in achieving his vision for Abia State.
The Association of Elected Former Councillors of Abia State (1999-2022) passed a vote of Confidence in Governor Otti and unanimously adopted him as its sole governorship candidate for the 2027 governorship ballot.
