Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has pledged to pay the outstanding entitlements of more than 4,000 workers disengaged by the administration of former Governor Theodore Orji between 2011 and 2012.
Otti, however, ruled out recalling the affected workers into the civil service, noting that many had become too old to return to active service after more than a decade.
Speaking in Aba during a civic reception organised by the Imo community in Abia in honour of him and his wife, Priscilla Otti, the governor said paying their accrued benefits was the most appropriate solution.
According to him, the directive to settle the affected workers had already been issued and was not limited to any particular ethnic group.
“I have also listened to a plea about recalling those who were disengaged a long time ago, around 2011 and 2012. The directive I gave was not just for Anambra people, but for everyone.
“The reality is that many of those disengaged 15 to 17 years ago are now too old to return to work. What we decided was to calculate their entitlements and pay them,” he said.
Otti explained that some affected workers from Anambra State had already received their benefits, urging others who were yet to be paid to present themselves for verification.
He reiterated that his administration does not discriminate on the basis of state of origin.
“In Abia State, there is no state of origin. Our policies are for everyone who lives and works here,” he added.
The governor assured residents that his administration would continue implementing policies aimed at improving the welfare of all citizens and visitors, expressing confidence that even greater achievements would be recorded over the next five years.
Earlier, leaders of the Imo community in Abia endorsed Otti for a second term in office and pledged their support for his re-election.
