Pecohub The Abia State Government has announced plans to commence the settlement of long-standing salary arrears owed to former Local Government councillors.
This is for those who served between 1999 and 2022, in what the administration describes as part of a broader effort to clean up inherited fiscal and governance liabilities.
Governor Alex Otti disclosed this during a meeting with members of the Association of Former Elected Councillors in Umuahia on Sunday.
According to the governor, payment of the arrears accumulated over more than two decades will begin before the end of February and will be executed in batches.
Otti explained that when the issue was first brought to his attention, he was not fully briefed on its complexity, including multiple court cases and partial payments made under court orders by previous administrations. He said his government decided to harmonise all claims and resolve the disputes holistically, noting that leadership demands confronting inherited problems rather than postponing them.
The governor commended the association for withdrawing all pending court cases related to the unpaid salaries, describing the move as a confidence-building step. He said the government has since harmonised all claims to ensure a transparent and orderly settlement process. With all litigations resolved, Otti assured that payments would begin before the month-end.
In a gesture aimed at institutional clarity, the governor directed the lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, alongside the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Uzo Nwachukwu, to formalise the structure of the association.
