Charles Esther
The Abia State government has paid 340 of the 461 staff of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba (formerly Abia State Polytechnic) who were sacked between 2018 and 2021.
The state government also promised that the remaining workers would receive their payments after completing verification.
Governor Otti Speaks on Dismissals
Governor Alex Otti, while speaking to journalists at Government House, Umuahia, said his administration would investigate the circumstances of the dismissals.
He stated the aim was to recall employees who were unfairly removed from their positions.
Funding and Financial Developments
Otti commended the polytechnic management for securing N2 billion from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
He also addressed the $125 million Islamic Development Bank loan recently approved for Abia, noting that foreign exchange instability was the only potential risk.
Investments in Education and Health
The governor revealed that his administration had spent approximately N14.43 billion on retrofitting 61 public schools as of June 2025.
He debunked claims by an APC group alleging that N54 billion budgeted for schools was mismanaged.
Additionally, Otti instructed Abia State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Uche, to start construction of an isolation and treatment centre at the Abia State Specialist Hospital, Amachara.
