Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has clarified that the 17 elected local government chairmen and 184 councillors in the state will serve a four-year tenure.
Governor Otti made the clarification during the August edition of his monthly media chat, “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia.
The clarification puts to rest speculation that the tenure of the elected local government officials, who assumed office after the November 2024 council elections, would expire in November 2026 under the previous two-year tenure arrangement.
According to the governor, the Abia State House of Assembly amended the relevant local government law before the 2024 election, extending the tenure of council chairmen and councillors to four years.
Governor Otti said the amendment was in place before the election, stressing that the elected officials were therefore entitled to the four-year tenure provided by the amended law.
The governor also announced the establishment of a technology-driven Citizen Engagement Centre to strengthen communication between residents and government.
He said the centre would provide a platform for residents to report issues, make enquiries and engage directly with government, while promoting transparency and inclusive governance.
On healthcare, Otti expressed concern over the increasing cases of serious illnesses among young Nigerians, including cancer, kidney failure, brain tumours and stroke.
He urged residents to pay greater attention to healthy diets and preventive healthcare.
The governor further disclosed that the state government spent more than ₦500 million in August supporting sick, elderly and vulnerable residents.
He assured Abians that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of vulnerable citizens and place the people at the centre of its governance agenda.
