Gov Otti Warns Appointees Against Corruption

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has issued a stern and unequivocal warning to all members of his administration, vowing to sack any appointee caught engaging in bribery or other forms of corruption. The governor’s zero-tolerance stance was reiterated on Saturday during a worship service at the Abayi District of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Aba, where he declared that no one would be shielded from the consequences of corrupt practices. This firm warning comes just two weeks after his administration took decisive action by dismissing six officials of the Ministry of Justice for their involvement in a salary padding scheme, sending a clear message that his government is prepared to act on its words.

The recent sacking of the civil servants serves as a powerful testament to the governor’s commitment to his anti-corruption agenda. According to Dependable NG, the affected officers were dismissed following their indictment in a payroll fraud scheme uncovered during an internal audit and administrative inquiry. The dismissed officials, which included senior accounts staff, were found to have manipulated the payroll system to unlawfully receive excess salaries over a sustained period. Governor Otti has since directed that the state’s Salary Committee be subjected to a separate probe to ensure full accountability and investigate any possible complicity in the fraudulent scheme. This decisive action, which also saw one staff member cleared of wrongdoing for promptly reporting an overpayment, underscores the administration’s resolve to not only punish offenders but also to reform the system to prevent future malpractices.

The prevalence of salary padding and ghost worker syndrome is a long-standing and debilitating problem across Nigeria’s public service. For decades, billions of Naira have been siphoned off state coffers annually through fraudulent payroll schemes. This endemic corruption cripples state finances, drains resources meant for capital projects and public services, and denies thousands of qualified citizens the opportunity for gainful employment. It is within this context that Governor Otti’s actions resonate so deeply. The governor, who stated that his participation in Abia politics was to restore the dignity of the state in line with the honesty and integrity for which the Igbo people were known, sees his anti-corruption drive not just as an administrative necessity but as a moral and philosophical imperative.

Otti’s commitment to his philosophy of clean governance is further evidenced by other key actions of his administration. Just months ago, the state government conducted a transparent and merit-based recruitment process that led to the employment of 5,394 new teachers. The governor proudly noted that not a single applicant was asked to pay a bribe or use personal connections to secure a job. This hiring initiative, which has been lauded by education stakeholders, is part of a broader educational reform aimed at improving learning standards and positioning the state as a hub of academic excellence. This approach stands in stark contrast to the old system where jobs were often for sale and merit was secondary to personal patronage, a practice that the governor is determined to eradicate.

Governor Otti’s unwavering stance on corruption sends a strong message to both his appointees and the public. “If anybody tells you to bring money for anything, tell him it is a lie. He is a dupe,” he warned, making it clear that his administration would be intolerant of any form of bribery. He emphasized that there would be no leniency or plea-bargaining for offenders. The governor’s actions demonstrate a fundamental shift in governance, prioritizing transparency, accountability, and the efficient use of public funds. The success of this crusade against corruption will not only redefine public service in Abia State but could also serve as a model for other states in Nigeria seeking to reform their own civil service and restore public trust in government.