Governor Alex Otti has hit back at Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, over his claim that Abia State receives between N38 billion and N40 billion monthly from the Federation Account.
Otti dismissed the figures as “inaccurate and misleading,” clarifying that Abia’s total monthly allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), including local governments, is N15.625 billion.
Kalu had reportedly made the claim during an Independence Day event in Umuahia, comparing the current administration’s revenue with that of past governments.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, and titled “Governance in Abia: Setting the Records Straight,” the governor faulted the figures cited by the Deputy Speaker.
“Abia’s 2025 year-to-date FAAC allocation (eight months), including local governments, stands at N125 billion. If the figure of N38 billion monthly were correct, it would have amounted to about N304 billion within the same period,” the statement read.
Otti said despite exchange rate fluctuations, from N460 to the dollar in 2023 to about N1,500 now, his government has prudently managed state finances to deliver on projects and pay workers.
He noted that while allocations appear higher due to inflation and naira depreciation, the real value has dropped because of increased project and import costs.
The governor highlighted his administration’s achievements, including raising the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 and recruiting over 5,000 teachers and additional health workers.
“Prior to 2023, the number of civil servants in Abia stood at about 31,000. Today, the verified number exceeds 67,000, excluding newly recruited teachers,” the statement added.
Reaffirming his commitment to transparency and fiscal discipline, Otti urged political leaders to rely on verified data when making public statements, stressing that his administration welcomes constructive criticism, not misinformation capable of misleading the public.
