Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has unveiled comprehensive strategy by his administration to revitalize the education sector in the state with particular focus on curriculum enhancement, teacher quality, and infrastructure development.
Speaking at the monthly Media Parley with Journalists tagged; “Governor Otti Speaks” at Government House, Umuahia, the Governor emphasized the need for a thorough overhaul of the education sector.
Cross section of Journalists
He said; “We have looked at the curricula, teaching staff, the infrastructure and we are in the process of enumerating the civil servants we can redeploy to the schools”.
Governor Otti who further disclosed that his government was making concerted efforts to make the teaching profession very attractive, said government has commenced its retrofitting programme in 171 primary schools and 54 secondary schools to meet quality standards.
“We have what we call the minimum standard, if you get into a primary school that we have touched you will understand.
“There are facilities that must be there in the schools like library, laboratory, students hostel, principals’ quarters among others,” Otti explained.
Cross section of journalists
In addition to educational reforms, Otti underscored the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, saying that his administration has been able to
streamline governance costs to focus only on essential expenditures and cited a significant reduction in the state’s debt burden since assumption of office.
“We have been managing our expenditure in such a way that we are able to live within our means as much as possible. It is tough but we have to do it”, he stated.
The Governor expressed concern over previous administrations’ financial mismanagement, revealed that as at the time his predecessor took over the state was owing N34.5 billion and as at the time he took over, the state was owing over N192.2 billion.
Otti expressed dismay over the fact that these funds could not be accounted for, noting that
administration has addressed some of the inherited debts, particularly high-interest commercial bank overdrafts.
He said that since assumed office as Governor, he has utilised his security votes to enhance security in Abia and added that security remains top priority in the state government’s agenda because of its role in development initiatives.
Otti said that Local Government funds cannot be hijacked under his watch adding that he was intentional about ensuring that funds meant for the Local Governments would be utilised to facilitate balanced socioeconomic growth in Abia.
