As Abia, popularly known as God’s own State, marks her 35th anniversary, Governor Alex Otti has directed that henceforth, those leaving the State civil and public service should be paid their gratuity as soon as the necessary documentation is completed.
Breaking the cheering news in a broadcast to mark the 35th anniversary of the creation of the State, Governor Otti made it clear that the era of denying retirees what is due them was gone, stressing that ‘henceforth, no senior citizen shall be denied what is due them.’
The Governor who noted with delight the recent commencement of the payment of accumulated gratuity arrears, starting from 2001, assured that government will continue to make these payments as resources become available.
He made it clear that his administration will continue to honour the senior citizens for the crucial roles they played in the evolution of the State since 1991.
“You can, however, take it for granted that henceforth, no senior citizen shall be denied what is due them.
“Beyond the decision to clear debts accumulated from more than 2 decades ago, I have also directed that going forward, anyone leaving the service should be paid their gratuity as soon as the necessary documentation is completed. The old practice of denying retirees what is due them will no longer obtain.
“This administration shall continue to honour our senior citizens for the crucial roles they played in the evolution of our State since 1991,” Dr Otti pledged.
On infrastructural development, the Governor noted that for the last 3 years, his administration has rehabilitated more than a thousand kilometres of roads across urban and rural communities to open up the economy, improve factor productivity and draw investments which ultimately would create job opportunities for our teeming youth population.
While mentioning various efforts made to address educational challenges, Governor Otti noted with excitement that quality education has been made available in all public schools through the recruitment of qualified teachers, provision of facilities and free education.
According to him, his administration has also invested in developing the information communication technology space through structured training programmes that have benefitted thousands of young men and women.
“The government in the last 3 years has demonstrated a definite resolve to mine the opportunities that are developing in the information communication technology space through structured training programmes that have benefitted thousands of young men and women; recall also that we are investing in ICT infrastructure to increase access, especially for rural dwellers so they can as well benefit from the leverages offered by technology,” he stated.
While recalling the contributions of the Founding Fathers and past Leaders of the State made at different times, the Governor noted that though the future is promising, it also demands greater responsibility from all for the building a State worthy of the dreams of our parents.
“The future, as I had earlier hinted, is promising but we must rise to the demands that it makes of us. The responsibility of building a state worthy of the dreams of our parents is on all of us; today’s anniversary invites us to embrace our duties as citizens and stakeholders in the long-term development of the State; pay your taxes and other statutory fees as often and quickly as they fall due, support the security agents to keep crime out of our State and refuse the temptation to be a tool in the shenanigans of unscrupulous elements.
“Abia is ours to build and thankfully, we are on the right track. As we match into the future with a new sense of mission; let us take confidence in the knowledge that our destiny is written by the very hands that carved the marvel of the universe,” the Governor pleaded.
