The Abia State Government has alleged that the administrations of former governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu paid less than 0.01 per cent of the gratuities owed to workers who retired from the state and local government services between 2011 and May 2023.

The government said the figure was contained in a report by a committee established to review outstanding gratuity liabilities in the state.

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

Kanu said the current administration had commenced the payment of outstanding gratuities to retirees, beginning with beneficiaries whose entitlements accrued between 2001 and 2010.

According to him, the review committee established that the total outstanding gratuity liability stood at N61.8 billion.

He said N7.2 billion of the liability accumulated between 2001 and 2010, while N43.6 billion was incurred between 2011 and May 2023. Another N10.9 billion accumulated between May 2023 and August 2026.

“The review also showed that payments made by successive administrations, particularly the administrations of former Governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu, covered less than 0.01 per cent of the gratuity owed to retirees who exited the service between 2011 and May 2023,” Kanu said.

The commissioner said the government was committed to addressing the backlog and ensuring that verified beneficiaries receive their entitlements.

Abia Govt denies Otti’s involvement in lecturer’s suspension

Meanwhile, the Abia State Government has denied claims that Governor Alex Otti influenced the suspension of Professor of Economics Nnamdi Nwaeze from Abia State University, Uturu.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, made the clarification at the Government House, Umuahia, on Monday while responding to questions from journalists regarding the controversy surrounding the lecturer’s suspension.

Ekeoma said the matter was entirely within the university’s jurisdiction and that the governor had no involvement in the decision.

“The Governor will not get involved. The suspension of the lecturer has nothing to do with the state government,” Ekeoma stated.