Otti grants grants automatic employment to 9 ex-corps members

Gov Alex Otti of Abia has given automatic employment to nine ex-National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members of Abia origin that received the Presidential Honours awards at the end of their service year. Otti announced the automatic employment while receiving the ex-Corps members led by the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mrs Gladys Adama in his office on Tuesday. The governor directed the State Head of Service to issue them with appointment letters with immediate effect. “On behalf of the state government, you are going to leave here with a token; but beyond the token, I hereby temporarily lift the embargo on employment to employ the nine of you, except if any of you is not interested. “So, having lifted that embargo and having employed all of you, I also close the embargo,” the governor declared. He directed the state’s Attorney-General to communicate to the head of service to effect the employment of the nine ex-Corps members without interviews. “So, all you need to do is to go and do your documentation and then you can start work on Monday,” Otti stated. Otti, who appreciated them for their outstanding performances, charged them to continue to be outstanding in everything they did. He also thanked the State NYSC Coordinator for the great work she had done and for bringing them to him. Mr. Chinomso Nwogu, who responded on behalf of the ex-Corps members, thanked the governor for the recognition and appointment given to them. He promised that they would serve the state with commitment. “We are here to sincerely express our heartfelt gratitude to you, your excellency, for the recognition. “We also want to use this opportunity to commend your good work in the state. “You are a true leader. You are the Joshua of our time. Our prayer is that Almighty God, will give you the wisdom to continue to pilot the affairs of this state in Jesus Name. Amen, ” he prayed. The NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Gladys Adama, while presenting the ex-Corps members, said that they made the state proud during their service year. She said that they were decorated by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 July following their outstanding performances in service. “I have come with these nine who have done Abia proud, out of about a hundred and something, Abia came first with nine of them. “They have excelled in their various places of primary assignment. As you have been told, none of them served in Abia. In fact, only one of them served in the east; others served far away in the North,” Adama said. The ex-Corps members granted automatic employment include, Nwogu Chinonso Nwogo, Promise  Anyanwụ, Ezieme Uba, Ezinne Emmanuel, Grace Abia, Chiemela Nwafike, Dr Mark Ugwa, Miracle Eke and James Chukwuebuka.

Dr. Alex Chioma Otti: The titan of Abia’s rebirth

By Romanus Ike Azuka Government, in its noblest form, is a sacred trust, ordained to uplift the governed, as John Locke decreed: “The end of government is the good of mankind” ( Two Treaties of Government). In Abia, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti redeems this covenant, reigning as the state’s apotheosis, a sui generis steward whose two years have sculpted a New Abia from the ruins of neglect. With Promethean zeal and an economist’s precision, this hors concurs governor has paved roads and lit skies, transmuting despair into a citadel of hope. As Abraham Lincoln declared, “The best way to predict the future is to create it” ( attributed). Otti, architect of Abia’s destiny, forges a future where faith in governance is reborn. For me, a diaspora son of Anambra whose heart beats for Aba, his feats are a personal redemption. My frequent sojourns in Aba and Port Harcourt; summers lost in Ariaria Market’s frenetic bustle, dodging Ngwa Road’s treacherous craters, navigating nights cloaked in Osisioma’s oppressive darkness, revealed a city strangled by misrule. From abroad, I marvel at Otti’s alchemy, conjuring resources for structural magic that shames Nigeria’s profligate elite. His love for Abians, etched in every asphalt vein and electric pulse, ignites a political awakening, daring us to ask: could Nigeria’s leaders, blessed with abundant means, restore the nation’s glory, yet choose to plunder its soul? Behold the marquee of excellence, a presidential beacon whose legacy restores Aba to glory. Roads: Paving Pathways to Prosperity Abia’s roads,once a labyrinth of ruin,now gleam as Otti’s testament to progress. As Nelson Mandela averred, “A leader is like a shepherd…letting the most nimble go out ahead”( Long Walk to Freedom). Otti, Abia’s shepherd, declared a road emergency on May 29, 2023, unleashing a renaissance. Over 40 roads shine anew, with Aba’s Port Harcourt Road—-where my treks to Eziukwu Market and my travels to Port Harcourt faltered amid axle- snapping potholes—-reborn under Julius Berger’s mastery. Cemetery Road, Umuimo Road,and MCC/Old Express Road boast smooth asphalt,while Ossah Road in Umuahia,aglow with solar lights, rivals global capitals. Beyond Aba( my Enyimba City), Umuahia-Uzoakoli and Umuokomiri-Obehie knit communities together. My memories of Ngwa Road, where traders cursed rutted paths, haunt me; Otti’s roads erase that shame. Unlike past Abia governors, whose 24- year PDP reign left 50 roads forsaken, Otti’s 16 rehabilitated and six new projects dazzle. Compared to Nigerian leaders, whose vows dissolve, Otti embodies Machiavelli’s dictate: “A Prince must build on solid foundations”( The Prince). His roads are arteries of commerce, binding Abians to dignity. Electricity: Illuminating Abia’s Future Otti’s conquest of darkness crowns Abia a beacon of power. As Ronald Reagan proclaimed, “Government’s first duty is to protect the people”( Inaugural Address,1981), and Malcolm X affirmed, “A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything”(Speech,1963). Otti stands resolute,protecting Abians from years of darkness through the Abia Electricity Law,seizing 60% of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company’s assets. The Alaojii Power Station revival energizes Aba, while the Geometric Power Plant, ignited February 26, 2024, delivers 141 megawatts to nine local governments. Solar initiatives, like Solar for Health, light hospitals, and Independent grids ensure steady supply. I recall Aba’s nights, where kerosene lanterns cast flickering shadows over Osisioma’s stalls; Otti’s 24-hour power banishes that gloom. Past governors let Aba’s industries wither, but Otti outshines their inertia. Unlike Nigerian incompetent leaders, mired in power quagmires, Otti’s electric pulse is a love letter to Abians, fuelling dreams. The Alchemy of Resources: A Political Awakening How does Otti conjure funds for this structural magic? Abia’s revenue soared from N19.8 billion in 2022 to N24 billion in 2023,fueled by transparent e-taxation. He cleared N72 billion in debt, paid arrears,and axed ghost workers, borrowing only for progress. Unlike predecessors who plundered,or Nigerian political leaders whose budgets vanish, Otti heeds Immanuel Kant: “Act so that you treat humanity—-always as an end and never as a means only”( Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals). His fiscal wizardry stuns,raising Rousseau’s query: “Why are the people so often deceived by their leaders?”( The Social Contract). As a boy from Anambra, my frequent sojourns to Aba saw Ariaria’s chaotic stalls, Eziukwu’s traders haggling under dim lamps, Ngwa Road’s ruts jolting my steps; Otti revives those hopes. From abroad, I see his transparency —- publishing budgets,scrapping ex-governors’ pensions—- shame Nigeria’s political elite. Otti’s governance, rooted in love, stirs a political consciousness,echoing Marcus Garvey: “A people without the knowledge of their past…is like a tree without roots”( Philosophy and Opinions). He proves Nigeria’s salvation lies in will, not wealth Governance: A Meritocratic Maestro Otti’s meritocracy—- appointing technocrats,irrespective of state of origin,not kin—-defines his administration,unlike Tinubu’s nepotistic plunder. His court, wise and bold, echoes Lee Kuan Yew’s advisors, shaming Nigeria’s political and professional sycophants. His 2023 Road Revolution, rebuilding Port Harcourt Road with Julius Berger, sparked no scandal, unlike Tinubu’s Rivers State charade. Montesquieu’s maxim, “The spirit of moderation should be that of the legislator”( Spirit of the Laws,1748),exalts his integrity. My Anambra heart, stirred by Port Harcourt Road’s beauty, rejoices in his virture, like Trump’s brash accountability. A Legacy of Glory Age is no barrier to leadership,for wisdom may crown the old or vigor the young, as history attests. Abia’s governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, a political titan at 60, proves brilliance transcends time. He soars where his Nigerian political contemporaries stumble. Aristotle declared, “Excellence is never an accident”(Nicomachean Ethos); Otti embodies this, his vision a lodestar for Nigeria’s political firmament. Unlike lesser men, he joins political giants like Konrad Adenauer, rebuilding Germany at 87; Lee Kuan Yew, forging Singapore at 42; Javier Milei, slashing Argentina’s deficit at 54; Nayib Bukele, securing El Salvador at 40; Ibrahim Traore, defying empires at 37. A Legacy of Love and Leadership Dr. Otti is Abia’s cynosure, his roads and lights a hymn to his people. As Rotimi Amaechi lauded, his works are “incredible”(The Guardian, June 7, 2025). Unlike past governors, whose legacies are potholes, or Nigerian political leaders chasing headlines, Otti builds with purpose, embodying Winston Churchill’s maxim: “Success is

Abia Increases Salaries of Traditional Rulers  

The Abia State Government has approved an increase in the monthly payments for traditional rulers in the state.  Traditional leaders will now receive between N250,000 and N350,000, with an extra N100,000 added for members of the Traditional Rulers Council at the state and local levels.   This decision was announced on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, following a State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia. READ ALSO: PSC Sacks two erring officers, punish others  He said the government aims to honor traditional rulers and promote the state’s culture.   Additionally, the government is working on updating its 30-year development plan to address current economic conditions.  A State Economic Team will soon be inaugurated to handle the re-basing process, which involves adjusting the economy’s base year to reflect updated prices.   READ ALSO: Peter Obi and Tinubu’s, APC’s morbid line The government has also revamped its Harmonized Taskforce to enforce rules against street trading and driving against traffic.  These actions are intended to protect the state’s roads and prevent accidents caused by one-way driving.   In education, Abia has begun implementing its Out-of-School Policy as schools reopen after the holidays.  A special taskforce has been set up to ensure children return to school, with a goal of eliminating out-of-school children across the state.  

Abia State to Enforce Free Education  

Abia State Government, South East Nigeria, has announced free and mandatory primary education for all children starting January 2025.  This policy will apply to pupils from grades one to three in public schools, with the aim of ensuring that no child is left out of the educational system.   In line with this directive, parents and guardians are now legally obligated to enroll their children, as per the Abia Child’s Rights Law of 2006.  The administration warns that non-compliance will result in legal action.   Governor Otti’s administration has also paid off 90% of the N191 billion debt inherited without resorting to loans.  The government is pressing ahead with the relocation of Abia State University’s Law Faculty from Umuahia back to its main campus in Uturu, citing public interest as the driving factor.   Additionally, contracts have been awarded for the rehabilitation of nine roads across the state.  Urgent repairs are also underway on the Osisioma flyover, which has shown signs of wear less than two years after its construction.  The government reassures residents that these issues pose no immediate danger.   Efforts are ongoing to finalize the implementation of the new minimum wage, further underscoring the administration’s commitment to improving living standards and infrastructure.