A fresh political dispute has erupted in Abia State after the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Governor Alex Otti’s administration of failing to adequately cater for civil servants, pensioners and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
The opposition party, in an open letter to the governor, called for urgent improvements in workers’ welfare, alleging that some state employees still earn below the ₦70,000 national minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
The letter, signed by the APC’s Abia State Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, also urged the government to settle outstanding gratuities owed to pensioners and implement the promised increase in allowances for NYSC members serving in the state.
According to the party, the state government had earlier announced plans to raise the monthly allowance for corps members to ₦50,000, but the promise has yet to be fulfilled.
However, the Labour Party (LP) rejected the allegations, describing them as false and politically motivated.
Responding on behalf of the party, Abia LP Publicity Secretary Iroegbu Emenike accused the APC of attempting to mislead the public about the welfare of workers and retirees under Governor Otti’s administration.
He maintained that salaries and monthly pensions are being paid, insisting that the era when pensioners reportedly suffered prolonged delays in receiving their entitlements has ended.
The Labour Party also defended the delay in implementing the proposed NYSC allowance increase, saying government announcements must go through administrative and policy processes before they can take effect.
The exchange highlights growing political tensions in Abia as parties continue to debate the performance of Governor Otti’s administration ahead of future electoral contests.