GOV OTTI ROLLS OUT 2024 PLANS

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Govermor Alex Otti of Abia state has called on the residents of the state to embrace the New Year with great hope, optimism and confidence.

Governor Otti, in his New Year broadcast, said 2024 would be a year of consolidation of the gains made in the past seven months of his administration.

In a message entitled “A Journey of Great Expectations,” the Governor announced that plans were almost concluded for the upward review of workers salary to fit into the prevailing economic realities.

On his promise to defray arrears of pensions in the state before the end of 2023, the Governor explained that it was unfortunate to report that a few challenges had affected government’s plans to keep to its promise.

Governor Otti said based on the figures available, the government had arranged the funds to make good this promise, however, before making the payment a digital verification of the pensioners was conducted to found that some pensioners were owed since 2014.

“While we continue to engage the National Union of Pensioners, Governor pledged the payment would be made before the end of the first quarter of this New Year,” Governor Otti remarked.

Governor Otti, who said that the general approach as a government was to create the good governance, maintained that technology which had been in the heart of the transformation and reform agenda of the government would move to a new gear in 2024 starting with the digitalization of the operation of the public institutions for ease of access and efficiency.

He listed improved security, road infrastructure, regular payment of salaries, reinvigoration of the health sector, restoration of security, effective urban management, support to the economically vulnerable among other achievements.

The Governor noted that 84% of the 2024 budget has been earmarked for capital project which includes rebuilding and remodeling of schools and hospitals as well as well as build a world class health village to stem the tide of medical tourism.

He encouraged residents to sustain their support by paying their taxes and cooperate with security agencies to achieve the needed security in the state and wished them well in the New Year.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU