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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has promised to offset the arrears of gratuity and other allowances owed former councillors in the state who served between 1999 and 2022.
Governor Otti made the promise during a meeting with members of the Association of Former Elected Councillors at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia.
The governor stated that the arrears would be settled in batches as to not grand government business.
“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”, the governor assured.
He commended the association for withdrawing pending court cases against the state government, describing the move as a demonstration of goodwill and confidence in his administration.
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Otti told the ex-councillors that as every labourer deserves his wages, his administration stands for what is just and right and would always stand by it.
Otti stated that the decision to commence payment of the outstanding arrears was not politically motivated, but driven by a commitment to fairness and justice.
“The reason why we are doing this is not politics. Whether you are a member of my party or you are not, you will be treated fairly”, he assured.
The former elected councillors had earlier, through their Coordinator, Chief Tony Agbanyim, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for concluding arrangements to offset the arrears of allowances owed them by previous administrations.
Agbanyim noted that the neglect of their welfare by successive administrations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had subjected members to severe hardship, which, they noted, led to the death of some of their colleagues.
