Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has disclosed that his administration spent more than N500 million in August to support vulnerable residents.
These include people undergoing expensive kidney and other organ transplants as well as those battling terminal illnesses.
Governor Otti disclosed this on Thursday during the August edition of the monthly media parley with journalists, tagged “Governor Otti Speaks”, in Umuahia.
The Governor said the intervention reflects his administration’s commitment to putting the people at the centre of governance, particularly workers, the elderly and vulnerable residents.
Governor Otti assured that the state government would continue to assist residents facing difficult circumstances, noting that it had a responsibility to intervene when citizens were confronted with serious challenges.
He said; “We continue to render support to the sick, the elderly, and the vulnerable. This month alone, we have spent well over N500 million just supporting people who need support but who are vulnerable.
“Some of them are undergoing some complicated and expensive kidney transplant and other organ transplants. Some of them are dealing with terminal diseases.
“But we believe that as a responsible government, we should not fold our arms while our people are going through difficulty and we will continue to do that.
“Our people continue to remain the centerpiece and focus of this administration, particularly our workers, the elderly, the vulnerable.
Governor Otti also disclosed that the government has provided financial assistance to Abia indigenes who returned from South Africa, saying some had endured difficult and traumatic circumstances before returning home.
The governor revealed that the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection had been directed by the State Executive Council to liaise with relevant authorities and work out arrangements for the safe return of Abia indigenes allegedly trapped in South African.
On workers’ welfare, Otti said the government had completed the payment of outstanding gratuities to senior citizens who retired between 2001 and 2010.
“A few days ago, we were able to deliver outstanding gratuity for our senior citizens who had retired between the years of 2001 and 2010.
“That has been completed and we are getting ready to deal with the remaining years from 2011 all the way to the present, based on available resources,” he said.
He said that the present administration inherited outstanding gratuities of more than N60 billion and was clearing the liability gradually.
Governor Otti also announced that the state had rolled out the contributory pension scheme for more than 36,000 workers, saying the arrangement would make pension and gratuity payments more sustainable.
“Just last month, we rolled out the contributory pension scheme for over 36,000 workers in the state.
“What that means is that the issue of pensions and even gratuity will become seamless since the contributory pension scheme is such that between the worker and the employer, some funds are set aside on a monthly basis to take care of pension and gratuity that they foredo,” he said.
The governor further announced the establishment of a technology-driven Citizen Engagement Centre to enable residents to communicate directly with government, report issues, ask questions and make inputs into governance.
He said the centre had been equipped with a helpline and an email platform, adding that more details would be provided when it was officially opened.
Governor Otti also said the state would continue to pursue interventions aimed at improving infrastructure, roads, public utilities, land administration and other sectors, stressing that the ultimate objective was to create an environment in which residents could live, work and prosper.
He said the administration’s people-centred approach would remain central to its policies and programmes.
