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Tag: Gov. Otti

  • I am using Kalu’s infrastructure template in Aba to develop Abia State – Gov. Otti

    I am using Kalu’s infrastructure template in Aba to develop Abia State – Gov. Otti

    Senator Orji Kalu (Abia North) has received commendation from Governor Alex Otti. 

    During the courtesy visit, Otti on Sunday evening, acknowledged the enviable records set in Aba and across Abia by Kalu when he was Governor from 1999-2007. 

    Otti claimed Kalu’s blueprint is what he is using to develop Aba city and other parts of Abia State. 

    “Government and Governance is a continuum, it can be broken but you must go back and recover it,” the Governor asserted. Otti noted that Kalu did an excellent job in the State and he will borrow a leaf from. 

    The number one citizen of Abia State also emphasised how his mother was an ardent and one of the firm supporters of Kalu when he was Governor, recalling how he constructed standard roads network across Aba and hasn’t stopped using the template led down by Kalu. 

    “I can assure you, that template is not wrong. You fix the place that generates the revenue, the revenue will come and you use it to fix other places,” Otti stressed. 

    Otti’s mum and others before, within and after her generation are very conversant with how Kalu did very well as Governor and impacted the lives of Abia in education, agriculture, road infrastructure and commerce, etc. 

     Kalu became Governor at 39, coming with the well established business  mindset he put forth the knowledge to work which made him to be recognised as the “Action Governor” by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo who came on a working visit to Abia State. 

    Read Also: Gov. Otti commends Abia-born immigration officer who rejected N10m bribe

    After seeing the tremendous transformations brought by Kalu, Obasanjo praised Kalu for doing much with meagre allocations at that time. 

    Also recall that previously during commissioning of the Aba Integrated Power Project, Governor Otti had acknowledged Kalu as the pioneer brain behind the Aba power grid. This project was primarily driven by Geometric Power Limited and involves a privately owned power distribution company, Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), licensed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Gov. Otti thought it wise to reference Kalu as the forerunner of the Aba Grid. 

    Kalu described Gov. Otti as who he can’t play politics with and assured him of visiting him whenever he is in the State. 

    Kalu told the Governor that he would have been around for his second anniversary in office but for President Tinubu who earlier invited him to Lagos for his celebration to commemorate his two-year stay in office.

  • Gov. Otti commends Abia-born immigration officer who rejected N10m bribe

    Gov. Otti commends Abia-born immigration officer who rejected N10m bribe

    Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has praised Ugochukwu Prince Orji, an Abia-born immigration officer who rejected a N10 million bribe while on duty, describing him as a true patriot and exemplary ambassador of the state.

    Governor Otti gave the commendation while receiving a 30-man delegation of the organisers and sponsors of the Oha Isiala Ngwa Grand Civic Reception/Appreciation held in his honour for his leadership strides in Isiala Ngwa and across the state.

    He lauded Orji’s integrity and courage, saying his action reflects the values Abians are known for—honesty, diligence, and a strong work ethic.

    “You have done your job excellently and shown that you are not just a good ambassador of Isiala Ngwa and Abia State, but of Nigeria as a whole,” Otti said. “What you did is typical of us. We are straightforward people. We don’t steal, we don’t cheat. Yes, there may be a Judas among every 12, but the good must not be drowned out.”

    The governor noted that Abians are industrious people who work hard to earn a decent living and would naturally reject dubious gifts. He recalled how he recently honoured a Keke rider who returned a large sum of forgotten cash to its owner, saying Orji would receive similar recognition.

    “I was told this incident happened in Enugu State, and I have asked my brother Governor there to start the celebration. We will round it off here at home,” Otti stated, adding that honesty pays and should always be celebrated.

    “The whole idea is to also let people know that there is so much to gain by being straightforward. There is so much to gain by rejecting bribes. ₦10 million is a lot of money, and you could do so much with it, but you rejected it.

    “And, you rejected it because it is not earned. So, I want to encourage you to continue to serve straightforwardly. This example you have shown, hold on to it.”

    ‎He encouraged the honest immigration officer not to let anybody make him feel bad or discouraged about what he did by telling him what N10 million could have done for him, stating, “It is foolish to think that you can cheat your way out and then become a big man tomorrow, no. Whatever you get illegally, somehow, someday, somewhere, you will lose and pay for it.

    ‎He thanked him for representing Abia State very well, assuring that he would be celebrated in due course.  

    Read Also: Gov. Otti awards ₦150m business grants to best 150 graduates of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic

    ‎Mr. Orji hails from Obikabia, Isiala Ngwa South LGA of Abia State.

    ‎Earlier in his speech, the leader of the delegation, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, revealed that they came to thank the Governor for accepting to be honoured and for honoring their invitation and presented their son, Mr. Ugochukwu Promise Orji, who made them proud by rejecting N10 Million inducement to compromise on the line of duty.

    He explained that they came together on their own, agreed to celebrate the Governor, and happily contributed to doing so, noting that “The more we celebrate you, we are celebrating ourselves because you have made us proud.”

    ‎In his vote of thanks, the member representing Isiala North and South in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, thanked the Governor for accepting to be honoured even though he is not given to such public outings.

  • Gov. Otti clarifies issues over workers’ salary deductions

    Gov. Otti clarifies issues over workers’ salary deductions

    Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has clarified the nagging issues surrounding some deductions in the salaries of some civil servants in the state.

    Otti made the clarification at the Government House, Umuahia, on Friday night during his monthly media interaction with newsmen.

    He said that the government had conducted investigations in response to the complaints by some civil servants about  deductions in their salaries.

    Otti said that the investigation revealed that the migration from the use of 2018/2019 tax rate to
    the current tax rate in deducting the taxes from salaries was responsible for the difference.

    “A lot of people who felt their salaries were being reduced, when we investigated those complaints, we found that what actually happened was that before now an old tax rate was being applied.

    “The 2018/2019 tax rate was being applied and there was a 2021/2022 tax law, which of course, has come into effect.

    “I find it difficult to accept that somebody is pinching salaries, then how do you even do it, because the money leaves the account of the state and hits the account of the beneficiary.

    “So, at what point would somebody deduct the salaries, and if you deduct, where do you take it to?”

    The governor also said that the government had investigated the complaint about salary disparity in some Local Government Areas of the state and “we found that it is not true”.

    Otti also attributed the development to tax deductions, using the current rate.

    He said that the government had evolved a policy that allows the payment of overtime allowance to a civil servant that performs “over time duties”, based on the request of the government.

    He said: “If you were getting paid  over time and you were getting some overtime now the government says you are not supposed to work overtime.

    “Except if there is need for that and it is the government that would ask you to do that.

    “I think that is what people are mistaking for salary being deducted.”

    On minimum wage, Otti said that the government had set up a committee to look into the issue as it awaited more clarifications from the Federal Government on the matter.

    He said: “You know the minimum wage announcement was just about the minimum wage of N70,000.

    “What that means is that every other person’s salary would go up.

    Read Also: Gov. Otti has returned dignity to Abians, says Kalu 

    “So, it is not just going to be minimum wage for civil servants every other salary would be adjusted accordingly.”

    According to him, the government and the Nigerian Labour Congress are already interfacing to work out a solution that would be practicable and within the state’s meagre resources.

    Otti said that the government had placed the issue of the new minimum wage in the front burner.

    “As we even prepare for a review of the budget after the virement, we are already making provisions for increase of salaries on the basis of the new minimum wage,” he said.

    The governor also spoke on how Abia’s share of the Federal Government’s trucks of rice was distributed to the people.

    He said that government resolved to share the palliative among the poorest of the poor in society and workers in the lowest rung of the civil service ladder.

    (NAN)