Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review and increase the revenue allocation to Abia State, citing the need for more funds to accelerate infrastructure development and critical projects across the state.
Governor Otti made the appeal on Sunday while receiving Mrs. Nkechi Oti, the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at RMAFC, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Umuahia to submit her report following a familiarisation tour and stakeholder engagement in the state.
Dr. Otti stressed that increased federal allocation would enable Abia to pursue its development goals more effectively, especially considering the state’s commitment to financial discipline and prudent fiscal management. He referenced the recent Debt Management Office (DMO) report, which praised Abia for its progress in debt reduction and responsible spending.
“We’ve demonstrated financial discipline, which has made it possible to reduce our debt profile. We only spend when necessary and on meaningful projects,” Otti said. “Anything you can do to help us get a fairer share from the federal allocation will be appreciated.”
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According to a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the governor also acknowledged the recommendations made by the commissioner regarding governance improvements across key agencies. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to proper reforms and restructuring, especially in response to concerns raised about overstaffing in the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC).
“I don’t believe in throwing people into the unemployment market,” Otti said. “Restructuring should be strategic. If there is excess capacity, they can be redeployed to other areas instead of being laid off. The Head of Service will convene a meeting by tomorrow to address this and ensure a responsible resolution.”
He expressed gratitude to Mrs. Nkechi Oti for her dedication and assured her of full cooperation from the state government. He also congratulated her on her appointment and pledged support for her work at the RMAFC.
Earlier in her remarks, Mrs. Nkechi Oti stated that her visit to Abia State was part of her familiarisation tour since assuming office. She noted that her team had assessed various government agencies and projects and was impressed by Governor Otti’s achievements, including advancements in road infrastructure, improvements in public school systems, enhanced healthcare delivery, the employment of over 5,000 teachers, and the digitisation of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
She, however, pointed out some critical areas needing attention, including the overstaffing of ASOPADEC and the need for deeper community engagement in oil-producing areas to ensure inclusive governance.
The meeting was also attended by key government officials, including the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu; Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Goodluck Ubochi; and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Mr. Dodo Okafor.