The Abia State Government has commenced the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to verified state and local government retirees.
The total inherited liability stands at N61.8 billion, covering outstanding obligations accumulated between 2001 and 2025. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu, who addressed journalists alongside the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Uwoma Ukandu, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Nkoma, and Accountant-General of the State, Mrs Njum Onyemena, said the payment followed a comprehensive review of inherited pension liabilities.
According to him, a committee constituted by the government examined records from the State and Local Government Pension Boards and established the outstanding gratuity liability at N61.8 billion. He said the review covered retirees who exited the public service between 2001 and 2025.
Kanu explained that the size of the Abia gratuity arrears made it impossible to clear the entire liability within a short period without affecting other government obligations. He said the government had therefore adopted a phased payment arrangement expected to run through 2031.
Under the arrangement, gratuity provisions for 2026 to 2031 would be incorporated into the state’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and annual budgets. The commissioner said the strategy would enable government to progressively settle inherited arrears while preventing the accumulation of new liabilities.
He explained that outstanding obligations included N7.2 billion accumulated between 2001 and 2010, while liabilities between 2011 and May 2023 stood at N3.6 billion. Gratuity obligations accumulated from May 30, 2023, to date were put at N10.9 billion, with the broader reconciliation exercise establishing the total liability at N61.8 billion.
Kanu said the payment programme would prioritise the oldest outstanding claims and retirees considered to have greater social needs. He added that payments would be made directly to verified beneficiaries through a dedicated platform linked to the Treasury Single Account.
The platform, according to him, would incorporate biometric verification to prevent duplication, fraud and wrongful payments. The government is also cleaning up the retirees’ database, particularly inherited records that were poorly maintained and largely kept in analogue formats.
Kanu acknowledged that the administration could not realistically eliminate 24 years of accumulated liabilities within three years. He, however, assured retirees that the government remained committed to progressively addressing inherited obligations while continuing with its wider development programme.
The state government has established a contact centre to handle complaints and enquiries relating to the gratuity exercise. Kanu gave the helpline as 0800 000 0232, available from 8am to 4pm on working days. He also provided [email protected] for enquiries, saying the email channel would operate round the clock.
The commissioner also announced the resolution of issues that led to the recent industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, at Abia State University.
Kanu said Governor Otti had approved the union’s demands in April 2026, but administrative and implementation processes delayed their execution. He said the governor subsequently directed the Secretary to the State Government-led committee to resolve the outstanding matters within 48 hours.
According to him, outstanding check-off dues have been paid, while the new salary structure, Consolidated Academic Teaching Allowance, ASCTA, and other related payments have been processed alongside the August 2026 salaries. The new salary scale for other categories of university staff has also been processed for payment.
Kanu announced that Governor Otti would commission the newly completed Obinwa General Hospital in Mgboko on Tuesday. He described the facility as a modern hospital equipped with digital health technology and expected to expand healthcare access in the state.
The commissioner also disclosed that health insurance enrolment had increased to 269,900 beneficiaries. He said the government had inaugurated the Abia State Diaspora Healthcare Government Fund to support insurance enrolment for indigent citizens and vulnerable people in the informal sector.
On education, Kanu announced the completion of another teacher recruitment exercise, with 4,074 successful candidates receiving appointment notifications. The recruits, selected through what he described as a merit-based and transparent process, are expected to begin onboarding and orientation the following week.
The state government also disclosed plans to improve electricity supply across the Aba ring-fenced area through the licensing of a power generation plant within the zone. According to Kanu, electricity generated from the facility would serve the ring-fenced area covering eight local government areas across Abia Central and Abia North.
The government is also considering interconnected mini-grids for underserved communities and areas affected by vandalism of electricity infrastructure. Responding to questions on the proposed takeover of electricity distribution operations, officials clarified that the process remained ongoing.
The existing distribution company, they said, would remain responsible for operations until the transaction was concluded. The government, however, said it was already supporting the rehabilitation of substations, transformers and other electricity infrastructure.
The government also distanced itself from the suspension of an Abia State University lecturer who reportedly raised concerns about the ASUU dispute on social media.
Officials described the matter as an internal university issue, stressing that the institution has its own procedures for investigation and disciplinary action. The government urged the public not to politicise the matter and advised stakeholders to allow the university’s processes to take their course.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Finance reiterated that retirees whose gratuity claims had been verified were being paid in full. He said the exercise formed part of the administration’s broader effort to clean up inherited liabilities and rebuild confidence among retirees and public servants in Abia State.
