APC to Gov Otti: “Abia Workers Deserve Dignity, Not Poverty” Amid ₦22,000 Salary

As Nigeria grapples with rising living costs, the Abia State chapter of the APC has accused Governor Alex Otti’s administration of failing workers, alleging that some civil servants still earn as little as ₦22,000 monthly while pension arrears and other welfare issues remain unresolved.

The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a strongly worded open letter to Governor Alex Otti, accusing his administration of neglecting workers’ welfare despite the state’s growing revenue. In the statement, the opposition party alleged that some civil servants still receive salaries as low as ₦22,000 monthly, while others are reportedly owed salary arrears and retirees continue to await pensions and gratuities. The claims reflect the APC’s position and have not been independently verified.

Why is the APC criticising Governor Alex Otti?
The Abia State chapter of the APC has accused Governor Alex Otti’s administration of failing to prioritise workers’ welfare. The party alleged that some civil servants still earn as little as ₦22,000 monthly, while salary arrears, pensions, gratuities and the promised ₦50,000 allowance for NYSC members remain unresolved. The Abia State Government has not responded to the allegations in the statement.

UMUAHIA – The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Governor Alex Otti’s administration over what it described as poor workers’ welfare, alleging that some civil servants still earn as little as ₦22,000 monthly despite the implementation of the national minimum wage in other parts of the country.

In an open letter titled “Enough of the Propaganda: Abia Workers Deserve Dignity, Not Poverty,” and signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, the APC accused the state government of placing publicity ahead of governance and workers’ welfare.

According to the opposition party, “the true measure of leadership is not the volume of media headlines, sponsored social media campaigns or promotional advertisements, but the quality of life enjoyed by the people, particularly civil servants whose labour sustains government.”

The APC described as “shocking and unacceptable” its claim that some government workers in Abia still receive ₦22,000 monthly in 2026, despite the ₦70,000 national minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.

It argued that regardless of workers’ classifications, paying less than the approved minimum wage amounts to a violation of labour standards and reflects what it called “a lack of compassion and responsible governance.”

The party further alleged that some workers earning between ₦22,000 and ₦40,000 are owed salaries running into several months, despite the state’s reported revenue from federal allocations and internally generated revenue.

According to the APC, “nothing justifies paying workers starvation wages and withholding even those meagre salaries for months.”

The statement also criticised Governor Otti over an earlier announcement that National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Abia would receive a ₦50,000 monthly allowance, alleging that the promise has yet to be fulfilled more than a year after it was made.

The opposition party claimed the announcement generated widespread public excitement but alleged that the payment has not materialised.

Furthermore, the APC alleged that the state government spends heavily on publicity while workers and pensioners continue to face financial hardship. It also claimed that many retirees are still awaiting payment of pensions and gratuities.

The party maintained that workers’ welfare should take precedence over media campaigns and urged the governor to demonstrate greater commitment to improving living conditions for civil servants and retirees.
The APC called on the Abia State Government to:

Fully implement the approved national minimum wage for all workers.
Clear all outstanding salary arrears.
Fulfil the promised allowance for NYSC members serving in the state.

Pay all outstanding pensions and gratuities.
Settle all legitimate allowances and entitlements owed to civil servants.
Prioritise workers’ welfare above publicity campaigns.

The party concluded by urging Governor Otti’s administration to, in its words, “prioritise compassion over publicity, responsibility over rhetoric and performance over propaganda.”
The allegations contained in the statement are those of the Abia State APC and have not been independently verified. The Abia State Government may respond to the claims.