Abia State Pays 340 Disengaged Polytechnic Workers, Promises More Payments

Three hundred and forty (340) out of the four hundred and sixty-one (461) staff members of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba (formerly Abia State Polytechnic), who were disengaged between 2018 and 2021, have now been paid by the Abia State Government.

The government assured that the remaining staff would also receive their entitlements once the ongoing verification exercise is concluded.

Speaking at the Government House in Umuahia, Governor Alex Otti confirmed the development and explained that his administration would thoroughly review the circumstances surrounding the disengagement of the workers. According to him, any staff who was unfairly dismissed would be considered for reinstatement after the review.

Governor Otti also applauded the institution’s management for securing ₦2 billion in funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), stressing that such intervention would support the growth and sustainability of technical education in Abia State.

On the recent $125 million loan facility from the Islamic Development Bank, which was approved for Abia by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly, Governor Otti downplayed concerns of any major financial risks. He clarified that the only foreseeable challenge would be linked to foreign exchange volatility, but assured that the loan would be managed prudently.

Highlighting his government’s commitment to education, Otti revealed that about ₦14.43 billion had been invested in the retrofitting and upgrading of 61 public schools across the state as of June 2025. He dismissed allegations made by an APC group, which accused his administration of mismanaging ₦54 billion allocated to education, describing the claims as baseless.

In the health sector, Governor Otti directed the Abia State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Uche, to immediately commence the construction of a modern isolation and treatment centre at the Abia State Specialist Hospital, Amachara, aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in the state