Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has signed the Abia State of Nigeria Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Repeal Bill of 2024 into law. In a speech following the assent to the law in Nvosi, Governor Otti hailed the legislation as a significant step toward promoting good governance and stewardship in Abia.
Otti emphasized that leadership should prioritize stewardship over personal gain and commended the Abia House of Assembly for swiftly handling the bill. He praised the harmonious relationship between the legislative and executive branches, stressing the importance of collaboration for the benefit of the people.
The governor lauded the new law, which revokes pension payments to former officeholders, as a move in the right direction. He underscored the principle that government should prioritize public welfare over individual benefits in policymaking.
Expressing dissatisfaction with past administrations’ budgetary allocations heavily skewed towards recurrent expenditure, Otti affirmed the present administration’s commitment to reducing the cost of governance. He emphasized the need to allocate resources towards improving the lives of citizens, particularly pensioners.
Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emereuwa, noted that the bill would revoke the Abia State Governors’ and Deputy Governors’ Law no. 4 of 2001 once signed into law. He commended Governor Otti for his bold step and thanked the legislature for working closely with the executive to advance the state’s interests.
Attorney General of the state, Ikechukwu Uwanna, praised Governor Otti’s decision to assent to the bill, considering it aligned with the will of the people. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts between the House of Assembly and the executive in driving transformative changes in the state.
