The Abia State Government has commenced the payment of outstanding gratuities to eligible beneficiaries and resolved the issues that led to the recent strike at Abia State University, Uturu.

The state Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the development followed the work of a committee established by the state government to oversee the payment of outstanding gratuities.

According to him, after reviewing records from the State Pensions Board and Local Government Pensions Board, the committee established the total outstanding gratuity liability at N61.8 billion for both state and local government retirees.

He explained that N7.2 billion of the liability accrued between 2001 and 2010, while N43.6 billion accumulated between 2011 and May 29, 2023. A further N10.9 billion accrued from May 30, 2023, to date.

Kanu said the committee considered the impact of the prolonged delay on pensioners, the government’s obligation to settle inherited liabilities, its capacity to meet the obligations and the need to prevent further accumulation of arrears.

The committee consequently recommended that the total annual financial requirement for gratuity payments from 2026 to 2031 be incorporated into the state’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets.

It also recommended that payments be made directly to verified beneficiaries through a dedicated gratuity payment platform linked to the state’s Treasury Single Account.

ABSU strike resolved

The commissioner also announced that the issues that led to the strike at Abia State University, Uturu, had been resolved following the intervention of a committee led by the Secretary to the State Government.

Kanu said Governor Otti had approved the demands of the university workers as far back as April 2026, stressing that the subsequent delay was caused by administrative and implementation processes rather than the government’s unwillingness to meet the demands.

He said outstanding check-off dues had been paid, while a new salary structure, the Consolidated Academic Teaching Allowance (ASCATA) and other related payments had been addressed.

According to him, the affected workers would receive the new payments alongside their August 2026 salaries.

“The new salary scale for other staff at the Abia State University has also been processed and will be paid this month, this August,” Kanu said.

He added that the development meant the issues surrounding the industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities had been concluded.

Kanu said the Otti administration remained committed to constructive engagement with ASUU and other organised labour unions, while prioritising workers’ welfare.

He, however, clarified that the matter concerning a suspended lecturer at the university remained an internal issue for the institution.