Abia Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has unveiled a series of measures to alleviate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on Abia state workers.
The measures include the implementation of a transport allowance for civil servants and a significant percentage increase in their salaries, expected to begin soon.
These steps are aimed at cushioning the harsh impact of rising inflation and ensuring the financial well-being of civil servants in the face of economic hardship.
Governor Otti who disclosed this while addressing the public during the 63rd Founders Day lecture series at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, said that plans are on the way to raise the current salaries of civil servants by a certain percentage as to cushion the harsh impact of the rising inflationary trend.
He announced his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of Abia workers in light of prevailing economic challenges.
Governor Otti whose lecture centred on the theme: “Petroleum Subsidy Removal; Dealing with the Challenges, harnessing the Opportunities” noted that his administration had earlier granted tax holidays to micro, small and medium enterprises to enable them manage the shock the that emanated from the subsidy removal.
He noted that government has continued to streamline the revenue collection process to enable efficiency, cut out double taxation and make the system independent in ways that limit activities of middlemen.
The Governor used the forum to announce plans to revive the Abia State Scholarship Board and grant scholarships and bursary awards to Abia students studying in various higher institutions across the country.
The Governor said aside from Abia state, he would love to champion a conversation with his Governor Colleagues in the South East for the expansion of scholarships for thousands of brilliant students in the region.
“Nothing must stand in the way of the education of our young people because we shall be doomed if we compromise any further on our investments in quality education. I don’t just mean funding the desperation to acquire certificates but something more holistic as this University has been doing for 63 years. Education is something we must take even more seriously”.
Governor Otti noted that his extensive commitment to road rehabilitation and reconstruction is aimed at increasing investments in the state which will ultimately lead to higher employment opportunities for the younger generation and expansion of business opportunities for MSMES.
” The ultimate agenda is to systematically improve the investment climate in Abia so that the environment does not sabotage the efforts of our entrepreneurs who pass through severe difficulties to remain in business” According to Otti.
The state Governor further said that the planned launch of a 10-billion naira MSME Fund as announced in his inaugural speech is still in course while modalities to accessing the fund will soon be unfolded.
“The target shall be existing and intending entrepreneurs with innovative and bankable ideas, the present government in Abia is business- friendly and the grand plan is to make Abia the leading MSME hub in all of Africa” Otti said.
