Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has announced that his administration intends to employ a minimum of 5,000 teachers to address the shortage in primary and secondary schools.
In his inaugural speech at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Monday, Otti disclosed his administration’s plan to employ at least 5,000 teachers to address the shortage in primary and secondary schools.
He stated that this was part of his administration’s commitment to rebuilding the school system, which would produce quality students that would be relevant to the needs of modern society.
The governor also noted that he would work with his team and relevant stakeholders within the next month to design an appropriate framework for the recruitment process.
The governor emphasized that young graduates in education, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as those willing to serve in rural communities, would be given priority.
He said: “We shall see to it that our teachers undergo regular refresher courses to update their knowledge and teaching skills so that they will stay relevant in their chosen fields.
“It must also be stated that under our government, teachers shall never be shabbily treated as reportedly had been the custom in the past.
“The paucity of infrastructure in our educational system shall be addressed stridently.”
Meanwhile, Otti has also declared a state of emergency on refuse disposal and waste management in Umuahia and Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.
He emphasized that a healthy urban environment would be a top priority for his government and has directed the State Environmental Protection Agency to evacuate all refuse heaps within the two cities.
The governor has also announced that his administration will commence the payment of May salaries and pensions to all civil servants and retirees in the next few days.
“There shall be no more distinction between the so-called ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ civil servants in the state.
“From June, all salary and pension obligations of the state would be settled by the 28th of every month.
“My commitment during my campaigns to pay off all outstanding salary and pension arrears remains sacrosanct.
“Within the next one week, I shall set up appropriate mechanisms to ensure that all legitimate employees and retirees are identified and paid their due entitlements,” Otti said.
Otti said that the fund is aimed at tackling the challenge of youth unemployment, which “keeps me awake most nights because I know how industrious our youths are.”
The renowned economist said that the scheme would comprise conditional business grants and low-interest loans to support relevant enterprises.
He said that the detailed modalities for accessing these funds would be made public soon.
“It is my projection that a minimum of 20,000 MSMEs shall benefit from this fund over the next two years and shall in turn generate at least 100,000 direct jobs and another 200,000 indirect employments in the state,” he said.
The renowned economist said that his administration would partner with commercial banks, local and international development agencies, venture capitalists and independent investors.
According to him, we shall target MSMEs in high-impact areas such as ICT, agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, fashion, leatherworks, and other areas where the state has a strong comparative advantage.
He said that his administration would also leverage some of the major reforms in the power sector to provide structural support in the form of steady electricity access for those entrepreneurs.
“Our administration shall also make sure that the major obstacles to business success such as poor road networks, over-taxation and restricted access to local and global markets are timeously dealt with,” he said.
The former bank chief promised that he would in the next one week, announce the setting up of the most suitable administrative and investment vehicles to drive the social and economic rejuvenation of Aba.
He said that he had mandated the leadership of one of the most notable construction companies in the country to carry out a preliminary assessment of some critical portions of Aba roads.
“Beyond working to retain the city’s status as a leading trade destination in Nigeria and across West Africa; we shall also do whatever is necessary to see that Aba’s manufacturing base is restored,” Otti said.
Governor Otti emerged victorious in the March 18 governorship election under the banner of the Labour Party.
