Abia State Governor Alex Otti has criticized the NBA over its remarks on the judiciary workers’ strike. Otti exposed salary mismanagement by judiciary leadership and reiterated his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
The judiciary workers’ strike in Abia State has sparked controversy as Governor Alex Otti criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for its misleading comments on the matter. Speaking during an interdenominational service to honor fallen heroes, Governor Otti clarified his administration’s stance, exposing errors in judiciary leadership’s handling of salary payments.
Otti revealed that his administration does not owe judiciary workers and had remitted the necessary funds to the judiciary’s accounts. He faulted the judiciary leadership for refusing to engage constructively with the government and for mishandling salary disbursements.
“I saw in the newspapers that the NBA was advising me to pay judiciary workers. The NBA should know better. My government does not owe workers. The issue stems from the judiciary leadership, which refused to engage with us and instead made erroneous calculations,” Otti stated.
Governor Otti detailed how his administration intervened to resolve the salary dispute. He personally reviewed the judiciary’s salary structure alongside the Accountant General and relevant commissioners. On December 24, 2024, the government remitted ₦283,242,318.50 to the judiciary and approved an additional ₦27 million, bringing the total to ₦300 million, including a 13th-month salary.
“Judiciary is an independent arm of government. Our job is to remit the money, and their job is to pay their workers. Shockingly, as of this morning, they have refused to pay,” Otti revealed.
Otti called out the NBA for its public criticism, arguing that the association failed to properly investigate the matter before taking a stance.
While addressing the ongoing strike, Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that all workers, including judiciary staff, are paid promptly and accurately.
“We prioritized the welfare of judiciary workers, and it is disappointing that their leadership failed to act responsibly. Despite this, we remain committed to resolving the issue,” he said.
Earlier at the event, Governor Otti commended members of the Nigerian Legion and the armed forces for their sacrifices. He pledged support for their families and called for collaboration to address their welfare needs.
“It’s not just about remembering fallen heroes; it’s about celebrating the bravery and sacrifices of our armed forces. We will work closely with the leadership of the Nigerian Legion to ease their burdens,” Otti assured.
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