The governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has urged the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to increase the federal revenue allocation of Abians to enable the government to deliver more developmental projects.
He made the appeal on Sunday while receiving the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at RMAFC, Mrs Nkechi Oti, who gave a report from her familiarisation tour and stakeholder engagements across the state.
During her visit, the commissioner stated that her visit was part of the tour.
While she lauded the governor’s achievements in infrastructure, digitalization of internally generated revenue, upgrade of public schools and health centres, and the employment of over 5,000 teachers, she identified other challenges.
Commissioner Oti observed to the governor that the ASOPADEC was overstaffed and stated the need for improved community engagement in oil-producing areas.
During his address, Otti stressed that his government is evidently financially disciplined stating that additional funds would enable them execute critical projects.
He said; “Anything you can do to help us increase our federal allocation will be very much appreciated by your state and by the government. Once again, thank you for the report. I will take my time and read through it.
“We have a lot of things on our hands. If we get more money to be able to execute them, why not? Particularly, we have also shown financial discipline.
“I am sure you may have seen the report that came out last week, which shows that our state has done well in terms of reduction of debt.
“That could only have happened because we are disciplined in terms of how we spend. We only spend when it is absolutely necessary and for the right reasons.”
The governor appreciated the commissioner for her team’s observation during their tour and visit.
While he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to addressing the observed issues the state is facing, Otti pledged ultimate attention to the raised issue of overstaffing in the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.
He promised to engage with the commission to better understand their problem and handle them.
“I will also engage further with ASOPADEC to understand what their problem is. The truth is that we do not want to throw people into the job market.
“What I had instructed was some form of restructuring. If there is excess capacity, they could be sent somewhere else rather than putting them in the unemployment queue.
“The Head of Service should also be part of this meeting. It should happen as quickly as tomorrow so that we can look at the headcount and know how to send some people to other places,” he said.
Otti congratulated Oti on her appointment and assured her of the state government’s support and collaboration with RMAFC.
Some other dignitaries who were present at the meeting included; the Commissioner for Finance; Mr Uwaoma Ukandu, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education; Mr Goodluck Ubochi, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication; Mr Dodo Okafor.
