The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused Governor Alex Otti of failing to prioritise the welfare of workers and pensioners, alleging that many civil servants continue to earn below the national minimum wage despite the state’s improved revenue profile.

In an open letter titled, “Open Letter to Gov. Alex Otti: Enough of the Propaganda, Abia Workers Deserve Dignity, Not Poverty,” the APC, through its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Uche Aguoru, argued that the primary responsibility of any government is to improve the welfare of its citizens.

The opposition party called on the Otti administration to immediately implement the approved N70,000 national minimum wage for all categories of workers, clear outstanding salary arrears, pay all pensions and gratuities owed to retirees, fulfil its promise to increase allowances for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state, and prioritise workers’ welfare over media campaigns.

Aguoru maintained that the true test of leadership lies not in media publicity or social media campaigns but in the quality of life of citizens, particularly civil servants whose labour sustains government operations.

He alleged that some Abia civil servants still earn as little as N22,000 monthly, describing the situation as unacceptable when the national minimum wage stands at N70,000.

According to him, paying government workers below the approved minimum wage is both unlawful and morally indefensible.

“This is not merely a policy failure; it is a moral failure. It is wickedness and a clear demonstration of governance without compassion,” he said.

The APC further alleged that some workers earning between N22,000 and N40,000 were owed salaries for up to three months, despite the state’s monthly allocations from the Federation Account and internally generated revenue.
The party also criticised the government’s handling of pension payments and accused it of failing to implement its widely publicised promise to pay NYSC members serving in Abia N50,000 monthly.

Responding to the allegations, the Abia State Publicity Secretary of the ruling Labour Party, Comrade Emenike Iroegbu, dismissed the APC’s claims as misleading and politically motivated.

In a statement titled, “Abia APC Has No Shame: A Rejoinder to a Desperate and Delusional Open Letter,” Iroegbu described the opposition’s allegations as “a tragic cry for attention.”

According to him, the APC lacked the moral authority to criticise the present administration, having presided over years of unpaid salaries and poor welfare for workers while in government.

He alleged that under previous administrations, workers were owed between 27 and 40 months’ salaries, while pensioners were routinely denied their entitlements.

Iroegbu said Governor Otti inherited the backlog of unpaid salaries and had since ensured that workers receive their salaries on or before the 28th of every month.

He also maintained that Abia was among the first states to implement the new national minimum wage.

Addressing the APC’s claim that some workers still earn N22,000, Iroegbu said the affected workers belonged to the Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (AMPISS), an agency established under previous administrations with a contract-based remuneration structure.

According to him, Governor Otti has abolished the distinction between “core” and “non-core” workers and commenced the process of regularising AMPISS staff into the mainstream civil service.

He also dismissed claims that pensioners were owed, insisting that retirees now receive their monthly pensions before serving civil servants are paid.

On the issue of the promised allowance for NYSC members, Iroegbu said the governor’s announcement remained valid but was undergoing the necessary administrative processes before implementation.

He added that the Otti administration had never claimed to have solved all the state’s problems within three years but had made significant progress in reversing years of poor governance.

“The indisputable fact remains that this government has done far better than the nightmare administrations of the past. Abians are finally breathing, and no amount of sponsored open letters will distract this administration from delivering the dividends of democracy,” he said.