Governor Dr. Alex Otti of Abia State has dismissed assertions made by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who claimed that the state receives between ₦38 billion and ₦40 billion monthly from the Federation Account.
In an official release on Monday, conveyed through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti clarified that Abia’s actual monthly allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), inclusive of local government funds, amounts to ₦15.625 billion.
This statement was issued in response to Kalu’s comments during an Independence Day celebration in Umuahia, where he reportedly informed attendees that the current monthly allocation to Abia had significantly increased compared to previous administrations.
Labeling the Deputy Speaker’s figures as “incorrect and deceptive,” Otti urged public officials to confirm financial information before making public declarations that might mislead the populace.
In the document titled “Governance in Abia: Setting the Records Straight,” the governor pointed out:
“The total FAAC allocation to Abia for the first eight months of 2025, including local government shares, is ₦125 billion. If the ₦38 billion monthly figure were accurate, the total would have reached approximately ₦304 billion during the same timeframe.”
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Governor Otti further explained that although the nominal FAAC disbursements have increased due to the naira’s depreciation-from around ₦460 per dollar in 2023 to nearly ₦1,500 in 2025-the actual purchasing power has diminished because of inflation and rising costs of goods and services.
He emphasized that his administration has upheld sound fiscal management despite these economic pressures, ensuring prompt salary payments and the advancement of infrastructure projects throughout the state.
Otti also underscored his government’s dedication to enhancing social welfare and job creation, noting that the minimum wage for state employees has been raised from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. Additionally, over 5,000 teachers and numerous healthcare workers have been employed to bolster the education and health sectors.
“Before 2023, Abia’s civil service workforce was approximately 31,000. Currently, the verified number exceeds 67,000, excluding the newly hired teachers,” the statement revealed.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility, Otti called on political figures to communicate responsibly and base their public statements on verified data.
He stressed that while constructive criticism is welcomed, his government will continue to address and correct any misinformation that could misrepresent the state’s governance record or mislead citizens.