Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has announced that a significant sum of over Sixteen Billion Naira has been earmarked for the development of the state’s secondary healthcare sector in the 2025 fiscal year.
Governor Otti who disclosed this during the first edition of his media engagement for the year 2025, titled “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians,” explained that the 22 secondary health facilities and health institutions across the state including the School of Midwifery in Umunnato, the School of Nursing in Amachara, and the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology in Aba, will be part of a comprehensive overhaul aimed at improving healthcare services in the region.
The Governor stressed that his administration’s commitment to enhancing affordable and quality healthcare services led to the initiation of the upgrade and retrofitting of 200 health centres in all 184 wards of the state. He also mentioned that five health centres in Abia Central have already been completed and are set to be commissioned.
In the education sector, Governor Otti said his government has launched an online portal for the recruitment of 2,000 teachers at the primary and secondary school levels, adding that a special package for teachers has been approved, including an increase in their retirement age to 65, with the potential for further adjustments if necessary.
Governor Otti also confirmed that his administration will provide operational funds for primary and secondary schools, ensuring the implementation of free and compulsory education at these levels and warned that anyone found collecting unauthorized fees would face serious sanctions.
According to the State Chief Executive, further improvements are planned for the state’s tertiary institutions, including Abia State University Uturu and Abia State College of Education Technical in Arochukwu.
The Governor revealed that a new Governing Council has been established for Abia State University, in line with the recommendations of the institution’s white paper report while announcing plans to relocate the Faculty of Law from Umuahia campus back to the Uturu campus.
In a bid to improve infrastructure at the state’s educational institutions, the Governor disclosed that the contract for the fencing of Abia State College of Education Technical in Arochukwu has been awarded with additional plans to provide portable water and a consistent power supply to the campus.
