Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has explained that the recent stakeholders’ meeting of the Labour Party (LP), which he hosted in Umuahia, was aimed at restoring peace in the party, adding that anyone who followed what happened at the meeting would notice that people were happy with the outcome.
“I believe that what we did was in the interest of the party. We have a vested interest in ensuring that the party will continue to operate as a political party in Nigeria,” Otti said.
On the rumoured retrenchment of workers, Otti declared that rather than sack workers he would ensure that the inherited salary arrears are cleared and reposition the civil service for increased productivity.
“There is no massive retrenchment in the pipeline. We will continue to ensure that the civil service is enhanced and productivity increased.
“The debts were inherited and I will pay them. In a few days, those payments will happen.”
On the recent outburst of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu that Otti would be the last LP Governor in Abia State, said, “I chose not to respond to it because it’s foolhardy to talk about what will happen tomorrow. Power belongs to God and He gives it to who He wills.”
He revealed that another boost was given to healthcare in the State with the opening of the eye clinic where 600 patients had their eyes checked on the official opening day at Amachara General Hospital, and the retrofitting of 200 primary healthcare centres, just as the government has started the phase 2 of upgrading ABSUTH for optimal service delivery.
“The whole idea is to ensure that wherever you live or come from, you will have a primary healthcare centre that will cater for your health.”
The governor also highlighted the achievements in the education sector to include the training of 2000 master trainers of teachers who would in turn train others, adding that another group was equally saddled with the responsibility of looking at the curricula for pupils in the state.