Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti says he has no plan to retrench workers in the state civil service.

Governor Otti stated this while responding to questions at the September edition of Governor Otti Speaks to Abians, a monthly media engagement of the governor and the people held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Umuahia, the state capital.

According to the governor, contrary to speculations that the state government had already concluded plans to retrench workers in the state public service, he has not thought about the alleged looming workers retrenchment.

“There is no massive retrenchment in the pipe line. We will continue to ensure that the civil service is enhanced and productivity increased.”

Otti, who noted that he is occupied with plans to defray arrears of salaries owed workers of some institutions in the state, said, “The debts were inherited and I will pay them. In a few days, those payments will happen.”

On the plight and agitation of workers that were disengaged from the state civil service by the Senator Theodore Ahamefule-led government, Otti berated such action, as according to him, no one should be disengaged from the state civil service because of where he or she comes from.

Otti who described his administration as one that doesn’t discriminate maintained that anyone who lives and pays his or her tax in Abia state deserves to enjoy every right an Abian deserves, reason he said, his government gave opportunities for non-indigenes to head some strategic positions in the state as long as they merited it.

He went ahead to assure that he would look into the plight of the disengaged workers which he said he hopes to have a positive outcome.

On the controversy surrounding the extended stakeholders meeting of the Labour Party in the state that was boycotted by the embattled national chairman of the party, Julius Abure, Governor Alex Otti said contrary to the antics of Abure and among others, the meeting held in Umuahia on Wednesday was part of measures to restore peace in the party.

He added that anyone that followed what happened in the meeting that saw the appointment of former Finance Minister, Nnenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha to head a 29-member interim committee, would notice that people are happy over the outcome of the meeting.

“I believe that what we did was in the interest of the party. We have a vested interest in ensuring that the party will continue to operate as a political party in Nigeria,” Otti stated.

He also reacted to his decision not to speak on the recent statement by the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu on the issue of he (Gov. Otti) going to be the last LP Governor in Abia.

“I chose not to respond to it because it’s foolhardy to talk about what will happen tomorrow. Power belongs to God and He gives it to who He wills.”

The State chief executive revealed that another boost was given to healthcare in Amachara general hospital by opening an eye clinic where 600 patients had their eyes checked on the official opening day.

He also disclosed that the government has started the phase 2 of upgrading ABSUTH for optimal service delivery while 200 primary healthcare centres in the state have been earmarked for retrofitting, a project he said would take place within 100 days.