Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has refuted claims by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that his administration owes judiciary workers, asserting that the judiciary itself is responsible for withholding workers’ salaries.
Governor Otti made this clarification on Sunday during an interdenominational thanksgiving service in Umuahia, as part of activities marking Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
Otti explained that the delay in releasing funds to judiciary staff stemmed from disagreements over salary reviews and errors in their calculations. He criticized the NBA for making public accusations without verifying the facts.
“First of all, this is a government that does not owe. It is untrue that judiciary workers have not been paid,” Otti stated. “When the minimum wage was reviewed, we engaged with them just like we did with the Nigerian Labour Congress. However, they refused to sit with the government, chose to review their salaries independently, and submitted erroneous calculations, which we had to correct.”
Otti disclosed that his administration released ₦283,242,318.50 to the judiciary on December 24, 2024, along with an additional ₦27 million and a 13th-month salary. Despite these efforts, he noted that the judiciary has yet to pay its workers.
“The judiciary is an independent arm of government. Our job is to remit the money to their account; their job is to pay their workers. As of this morning (Sunday), they have refused to do so,” he said.
Otti called on the judiciary to resolve the matter promptly, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to transparency and workers’ welfare. “We have done everything on our part to ensure salaries are paid. It is now up to the judiciary to fulfill its responsibilities to its workers,” he concluded.
