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Abia Governor Otti Repudiates Kalu’s Claim: State’s Monthly Allocation is N15bn, Not N38bn

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has swiftly responded to the claim made by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, regarding the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account.

 

Governor Otti clarified that the figures quoted by the Deputy Speaker were “inaccurate and misleading.”

 

Setting the Record Straight on Revenue,

Kalu had reportedly told supporters at a recent Independence anniversary event in Umuahia that the Abia State government was receiving between N38 billion and N40 billion monthly from the Federation Account.

 

Setting the Records Straight,” issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti provided the official figure. He stated that Abia’s total monthly allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), including funds designated for Local Governments, stands at N15.625 billion.

 

The Governor expressed concern that such grossly inflated figures could be circulated without proper verification, noting that if Kalu’s figure of N38 billion monthly were correct, the state’s 2025 year-to-date FAAC allocation (over eight months) would have been N304 billion, whereas the actual figure is N125 billion.

 

Governor Otti acknowledged that while the nominal value of allocations has increased due to the depreciation of the Naira (from N460 to about N1,500 to the dollar), the real value of the funds has diminished significantly due to inflation and higher costs for projects and imports.

 

He stressed that despite these economic challenges, his administration has managed state finances prudently to deliver projects and meet its obligations to workers.

 

The Governor highlighted key achievements, including raising the minimum wage for state workers from N30,000 to N70,000. He also noted the significant expansion of the state workforce, citing the recruitment of over 5,000 teachers and additional health personnel.

 

“Prior to 2023, the number of civil servants in Abia stood at about 31,000. Today, the verified number exceeds 67,000, excluding newly recruited teachers,” the statement read.

 

Governor Otti concluded by reiterating his administration’s focus on transparency, fiscal discipline, and inclusive governance. He welcomed constructive criticism but cautioned political leaders against spreading misinformation that is “capable of misleading the public” and urged for public discussions to be based on verified facts.

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