Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has expressed surprise over revelations that pensioners of Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, are allegedly owed a backlog of 25 months in pension arrears.
The Governor made this known during the April edition of “Governor Alex Otti Speaks To Abians” held in Government Umuahia.
During the live media chat, journalist and media executive Ifeanyi Okali of ABN TV and Radio raised the matter, applauding Governor Otti for his commitment to resolving pension issues in the state. He commended the Governor’s readiness to engage with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) over unpaid gratuities and benefits.
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However, Okali brought the attention of the Governor to a pressing concern affecting retired staff of ABSU.
“Your Excellency, are you aware that ABSU pensioners are currently owed 25 months of pension arrears?” Okali asked. “According to our findings, the past administration left behind 12 months of unpaid pensions. Your administration began paying them from June 2023, which was commendable, but reportedly stopped after the March 2024 payment — leaving an additional 13 months unpaid.”
In response, Governor Otti admitted he was unaware of the situation and expressed genuine concern.
“Now, the issue of pensioners in ABSU is news to me. I’m really surprised to hear that. So I will take it on board,” he said. “Like I’ve always maintained, I can’t know everything. So when you bring things up like this, I’m not afraid to say I do not know.”
The Governor requested immediate clarification from the Commissioner for Tertiary Education and his Special Adviser on Tertiary Education, instructing them to verify the accuracy of the claim and report back.
Governor Otti also noted that his administration has committed substantial resources to revitalizing ABSU, including renovating existing hostels, building a 5,000-bed hostel, and upgrading the Faculties of Law and Agriculture. He expressed surprise that pensions could be halted amid such significant state investment in the institution.
“If anything, we have committed so much money to ensuring that Abia State University runs well,” he said.
On a separate note, Okali also raised the issue of a persistent power outage in Ohafia, which has lasted for over six years. The Governor acknowledged the situation and revealed that massive vandalism along the transmission lines had complicated restoration efforts, but assured that work was ongoing to resolve the problem.
Governor Otti’s assurance to investigate the ABSU pension issue underscores his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsive governance.
