Tag: Otti

Abia state governor, Alex Otti, has paid homage to the memory of the late former Director General (DG) of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Dora Akunyili.

Governor Otti, who said he had a close family relationship with Professor Akunyili and her late husband, Dr. Chike Akunyili, called for a minute silence in honour of the two, when he met with the DG of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, in Government House, Umuahia, the state capital.

The governor commended Professor Adeyeye for the passion that she brought to bear on her work, saying she reminded him so much of Professor Akunyili.

“Reading about you, talking to you, and the way you have carried on with the function of directing the affairs of your office in NAFDAC, any time I come in contact with you, I think of Dora, because the same passion you are bringing to this job was the same passion she brought to the job as at the time she did it.

“I want to thank you for all that you have done and for what you’re going to do. I want to thank you for working for our people.

“I know you don’t have any personal interest. It is the interest of the people,” Governor Otti said.

He pledged to collaborate with NAFDAC in its crusade against counterfeit drugs and substandard products.

The Governor who emphasised the crucial role that NAFDAC plays in protecting citizens, commended the Agency’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health and consumer rights against counterfeit and adulterated products.

He however expressed regret over the loss of lives due to fake drugs and substandard products and vowed that his administration would not relent in its efforts to eradicate harmful products.

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The Governor recounted an instance where NAFDAC’s swift action in collaboration with the Abia State Government led to the shutdown of a haven for counterfeit products in Aba and pointed out that the state is committed to ensuring public health and safety.

“A lot of people die because they consume fake products, fake medications, fake food, so we will not stop until we completely eradicate them,” Governor Otti assured.

He outlined proactive measures implemented by the State, including the establishment of a unified task force to combat negative trends and address various offences.

Governor Otti emphasised the state government’s commitment to harnessing the potential of Abia youths for constructive purposes and underscored the importance of transitioning from fake to authentic products as well as promoting local branding initiatives.

“Fake is fake and the original is original. It just takes a little effort to migrate from fake to original. So, while we are fighting those who are faking products, we’ve also tried to reorientate our people that if you have the capacity to do the fake one, why don’t you migrate and do the original one?

“Our fight is to upgrade the positive energy and ensure that the negative energy is dwindled completely. If we can’t eradicate it, who else would do it than the government?

“So, we’ve taken it as our responsibility to support you in this fight and support ourselves also,” Governor Otti stated.

Earlier in her remarks, Prof. Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s mandate to regulate and control the production, importation, exportation, advertisement, sale, and use of various regulated products, including drugs, food, chemicals, cosmetics, and packaged water, to ensure the safety of consumers.

The NAFDAC DG emphasised the importance of engaging with Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and underscored the need for coordinated wholesale centres to monitor the distribution of drugs and related products, thereby preventing the proliferation of counterfeit goods and safeguarding public health.

She thanked Governor Otti for the express approval granted NAFDAC for land to build a befitting office space in Aba.

In attendance at the meeting with the NAFDAC DG and her team were the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo; the Commissioner for Digital Economy and SMEs, Matthew Ekwuribe; and some other senior aides of the governor.

 The two members of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the Abia House of Assembly on Tuesday formally defected to the Labour Party (LP).

The defectors,  Mr Iheanacho Nwogu, representing Osisioma North State Constituency, and Mr Fine Ahuama, representing Osisioma South State Constituency, were received by Gov. Alex Otti at the Government House, Umuahia.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, Otti said that the two lawmakers had always supported his administration from its inception, irrespective of their political affiliation.

The governor said that his administration was committed to transparency, service and merit as evident in his style of leadership.

He said: “One thing that I have assured members of the House of Assembly is that because we are running a transparent kind of leadership, we will never come to you with anything untoward.

Read Also: JUST IN: Two YPP lawmakers join Labour Party in Abia

“We don’t have anything to hide because Abia Government is working for the people of Abia.

“I even told them in Rivers that when you are governing people and they’re not happy there’s something wrong with the leadership.

“This is because the essence of governance is stewardship and I am happy because my people are happy.”

Otti said that LP would provide a level play field for all its members and urged the defectors to work towards bringing their constituents into the party.

He congratulated them on the bold step they took to join LP, adding that he looked forward to receiving more defectors into the party.

Earlier, the Majority Leader of the house, Mr Uchenna Kalu, said while presenting the two decampees to the governor that they announced their defection to the LP during the house plenary session.

In their separate speeches, Nwogu and Ahuama said that their decision to dump their former party was informed by the achievements of the Otti-led administration.

They said that belonging to the same party with the governor would enable them to join the support for his administration to deepen democracy at the grassroot for the benefit of their constituents.

(NAN)

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says it is not on the front burner of his administration to employ new people into the state’s civil service.

The governor made this known during the monthly interactive session with the media on Thursday in Umuahia.

He said that the issue of employment would arise when the government finished dealing with what it met in the civil service.

According to him, there is an embargo that I made and that embargo is still in place

He complained that the number of persons in the civil service was still very high even after verification.

Otti decried the huge wage bill of about four billion naira for both local government and state on a monthly basis.

Read Also: Politicians have enjoyed enough, it’s now masses’ turn – Otti

The governor, however, assured that the  government was working assiduously on improving and enhancing the pay for the civil servants.

He said that government was aware that there were quite  a lot of people in the service who might not be contributing at optimal levels and would need to do something about it.

He said: “So, it may not be a priority at this time to open up the doors to bring in new people, except if we have a way of exiting a few people.

“But you know with the civil service rules, it is not going to be very easy to exit people.

“What we are trying to do with the establishment of the Civil Service Commission and resumption of the new Head of Service and new Permanent Secretaries is to ensure that our people are adequately trained.

“This is to enable them operate their skills and perform better.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor spoke on a range of issues concerning his  developmental stride in areas of  infrastructure, agriculture, education,  health and others.

(NAN)

The deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, says the people of Abia state have begun to reclaim their dignity because of  Governor Alex Otti’s outstanding work. 

Kalu, who spoke when he visited Governor Otti at his residence in Nvosi, Isialangwa South local government area of the state, praised the governor for the selfless work he has been doing in the State since he assumed office 11 months ago.

He said: “You are doing well. I came here to tell the whole world that you are doing well.

“As the deputy speaker, you are not in my party, again, though I am regretting it that you’re not in my party. But I want you to know that among the people that came here (with me) are members of other political parties, the people that are pleased with what you are doing.

“I came to tell you that you are bringing out the name of Abia. We are solidly recovering our dignity, raising our shoulders because of your selfless approach to Governance. You are living up to your pledge.”

Kalu, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, pledged his continued support for Governor Otti, despite belonging to different political parties, for as long as he is working for Abia people. 

“We are seeing it. We will stand by you come rain, come shine.

“What are we looking for in leadership if not to impact lives? You are an accomplished man. You are not looking for a big name because you have earned it before coming into politics. 

“You are not looking for money, you have been eating rice before Christmas, that is the truth we know.

“We are seeing the signs; that the steps you are taking will take us to the Promised Land.

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“I have sat down to analyse your approach. Your approach is, do a general work for the people first before individuals,” Kalu affirmed. 

He thanked Governor Otti for the honour done to him last December, when the governor hosted a homecoming reception to welcome him back into Abia, shortly after he was elected Deputy Speaker by his colleagues in the Federal House. 

Responding, Governor Otti expressed deep appreciation for the Deputy Speaker and attested to the numerous support that he has received from him.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank him for all the support, and he has given so much support that has attracted a lot of projects. 

“I believe that the last one was an industrial court in Aba. We have already found a location for it and very soon work will start,” governor Otti disclosed. 

Another project the state is getting the backing of the Deputy Speaker is an airport, which according to the governor is already provided for in the federal budget as airstrip. 

“An airport is in the works. I have had a discussion with him (Deputy Speaker) and with the Honourable Minister of Aviation, and we know that what differentiates an airstrip from an airport is the runway. 

“Since the budget has made provision for an airstrip, we believe we can also make it an airport. 

“We’ve identified the location; very soon a team that has been put together by the federal government will be here. 

“And it is the real airport not a virtual airport,” the governor enthused.

Governor Otti went ahead to brief the deputy speaker and his entourage among whom were the member representing Isialangwa North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe; the former Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu and erstwhile Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka, of some of the things he has been doing to move Abia forward. 

He said: “There are a lot of things that we have in stock. But we also know that everyone of these things will fail if we do not secure the State very well. That is why we have paid so much attention to security from day one. 

“If you commit any serious crime here, just give us between 36 and 48 hours, we will get you. And, we are using a combination of sophisticated technology and very, very committed personnel of the Nigerian security system.  

“So, just last night, we set up a Security Advisory Council headed by General Onyeabor Ihejirika and a seven-man crack team that will work in consonance with security agencies and government to design proper security architecture that is not only robust but will serve the purposes of not just the now but the future. 

“We have also set up a Security Trust Fund that is headed by our brother from Ukwa East, Chief Stanley Obiamarije, and some other trusted persons, businessmen and women, who will support us in ensuring that we are able to fund our security architecture.”

According to Governor Otti, the government of Abia State under his watch, has simplified governance and this explains why the State is working.

“We’re just doing simple things; maybe we’re doing them differently just to show that leadership is actually simple. 

“Any time you complicate matters then you’re trying to confuse people. It’s either you’re building a road or you’re not building a road. 

“It’s either your health centres are working or they’re not working,” the Governor explained.

Abia state governor, Alex Otti, has said it is the turn of the masses to enjoy the dividends of democracy under his leadership.

Otti said this while hosting a delegation of Course 17, Syndicate 2 of the National Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, at Government House Umuahia.

He said he was on a mission to make the masses and not just a handful of privileged politicians, have a taste of good governance.

Read Also: Otti assures new Immigration boss of support

He stated that politicians who have presided over the affairs of the state since the return of democracy in 1999, have helped themselves enough with the common patrimony.

The governor told his audience that his recent decision to wipe off the backlog of pension arrears owed retirees since 2014, was a demonstration of his passion for the masses, who had been shortchanged by the ruling elite.

He said: “Never again shall Abia pensioners be owed their pension.”

He added that he had also directed that they be paid along with workers on the 28th of every month, a directive, he affirmed, had taken effect from April.

“This is the people’s time, politicians have helped themselves enough for the past 24 years”, Otti added.

 Gov. Alex Otti of Abia, on Friday said the State Government had paid all the pension arrears of retirees in the state.

Otti, who disclosed this during the monthly media parley in Umuahia, said that all the pensions and arrears of about 12,500 retirees were cleared as at last Thursday.

He said that over N9 billion out of the N10 billion outlay had so far been expended for the exercise.

The governor recalled that his administration had, after assuming office on May 29, 2023, promised to pay off all the pension arrears by the end of that year.

According to him, unfortunately, by the end of the year, we were still saddled with a very difficult verification exercise that ended just a few weeks ago.

The governor promised that, moving forward, pensioners would receive 100 per cent of their entitlements on or before 28th of every month.

“As we are paying 100 per cent of salaries we will also pay 100 per cent of pensions.

“Never again shall we have a backlog of pensions and arrears to be paid,” Otti vowed.

The governor said that his administration would continue to place high premium on the healthcare delivery system in the state.

He said that the government, in collaboration with a group, had engaged over 80 medical doctors who would provide free medical services in the state.

Otti said that the medical personnel who had already started arriving in the state, would carry out surgeries and other forms of treatments in the next couple of days.

The governor assured that the government had provided logistics, especially for residents coming from outside the state capital, Umuahia.

Read Also: Otti announces reconstruction of popular Ohanku road

He urged the people to take advantage of the free exercise and have their heath checked.

Otti said that his administration would continue with its programme of retrofitting the 948 primary health care centres in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also spoke on a variety of issues concerning the development of the state, while responding to questions from journalists.

(NAN)