By UZOMA ISIAKPU
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The nine paragraph address captioned: “Of Duty and Dignity,” delivered by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti at this year’s International Worker’s Day is incisive, informative, didactic, historical and insightful.
In paragraph six of Governor Otti’s address, he stated that his administration in addition to its avowed commitment to the welfare of serving civil servants, have also taken unprecedented steps to redress the injustice of ages past, an obvious reference to unpaid gratuities. He broke the gratifying news to Abia pensioners as he revealed that sums in excess of ₦10 billion have been earmarked in the 2026 fiscal year for payment of gratuities accumulated over a period of 20 years. Disbursement of the phased payment according to Dr. Alex Otti will commence in the upcoming weeks. This is a welcome development.
However, conscious of the fact that the a little over ₦10 billion budgeted for the exercise may grossly be inadequate, Governor Otti quickly intoned: “… We are sincerely committed to addressing the injustice of yesterday without burning our capacity to meet current obligations …”.
Agreed that there are competitive stress and strain on the state government resources, it will be a wise and deft political move for the Otti administration to up the ante and liquidate the accumulated gratuities which stood in excess of ₦60 billion as at mid 2025 before the up coming 2027 elections even if it means going to the Abia State House of Assembly for extra supplementary budget.
This is because if payment of the piled up gratuities goes on as has been scheduled, the import is that a greater number of retirees will not be paid before the governorship election slated for February 6, 2027. This implies that the elements Governor Alex Otti feared would seek to use the labour unions and by extension, the people to further their private agenda, that is, the opposition will gladly feast and leverage on this as a major campaign issue.
The opposition will quickly remind the electorate, particularly retired civil servants and their multitude of dependants of the inability of the government to honour one of its main campaign promises. In times like this when the Otti led government is seeking consolidation, such will be unsavoury. Nothing, and nothing should be taken for granted in furthering the cause of the administration.
In any case, having crossed the Rubicon on the payment of backlog of gratuities as stated by Governor Otti, he, as a man of no small measures should strive and not allow unpaid gratuities be an instrument against him in the upcoming electioneering. His administration should go the extra mile in completely tackling the problem.
For the continuity of the New Abia, the Abia State government ought to rethink her concluded present mode of payment of the unpaid gratuities. Defraying the outstanding gratuities in at least three installments before the 2027 governorship election will be a better option. Such approach will checkmate the opposition from lashing out at the government and creating doubt in the minds of the Abia electorate.
As a listening administration whose doors are open to useful advise, it is imperative that the government hearkens to the voice of reason and act with full commitment in the payment of unsettled gratuities to avoid playing into the hands of the opposition.
Uzoma Isiakpu is a Public Relations Consultant.
