Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, says that he wants an increased revenue allocation from the Revenue Moblisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to Abia State to enable the State develop the more.
Governor Otti was speaking on Sunday at his office, when he received in audience a delegation of the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the Revenue Moblisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mrs. Nkechi Otti, who called on him to hand over reports on her findings after her familiarisation visit and stakeholders engagements in the State.
Governor Otti, who said that an increase from the Federal revenue allocation would help the State to execute many of its projects, noted that he has demonstrated financial discipline, an attitude that distinguished Abia State in the report of the Debt Management Office (DMO), recently released.
“Anything you can do to help us increase our Federal allocation will be very much appreciated by your State and by the government. Once again, thank you for the report. I will take my time and read through it.
“We have a lot of things on our hands. If we get more money to be able to execute them, why not? Particularly, we have also shown financial discipline.
“I am sure you may have seen the report that came out last week, which shows that our State has done well in terms of reduction of debt.
“That could only have happened because we are disciplined in terms of how we spend. We only spend when it is absolutely necessary and for the right reasons,” Gov. Otti stated.
While thanking Mrs. Oti for the observations they made in various areas and agencies of Abia State Government, the Governor said that he has noted them and added that his government is a responsible one, and believes that things should be done properly.
For the issue of over staffing observed in ASOPADEC by the Federal Commissioner, Governor Otti assured that he would handle it urgently.
“I will also engage further with ASOPADEC to understand what their problem is. The truth is that, we do not want to throw people into the job market.
“What I had instructed was some form of restructuring. If there is excess capacity, they could be sent somewhere else rather than putting them in the unemployment queue.
“The Head of Service should also be part of this meeting. It should happen as quickly as tomorrow, so that we can look at the headcount and know how to send some people to other places, Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti congratulated the Federal Commissioner on her appointment and assured her and RMAFC of the collaboration and support of Abia State Government.
Speaking earlier, the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the Revenue Moblisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mrs. Nkechi Oti said that, she was in the State for a familiarisation visit, having been appointed into office few months ago.
She further noted that her team had visited various agencies and stakeholders and discovered that the Governor has done great in many areas including road infrastructure, digitalization of IGR, upgrading of public schools, healthcare centres and the employment of over five thousand teachers among others.
Mrs. Oti noted some challenges surrounding their findings, including over staffing of ASOPADEC, need for community engagements with oil producing areas among others.
The meeting was attended by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu, his Basic and Secondary Education counterpart, Mr. Goodluck Ubochi and the SSA to the Governor on public communication, Mr. Dodo Okafor.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Government House, Umuahia.
06 – 07 – 2025.
