The Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti, has stated that his administration has not borrowed any money for the state’s operations.
“We are working on African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank Group facilities. The terms and conditions are tempting and generous and we believe that when we need them, we will be able to get approval for any of them. I can say that the state of the state is healthy, but we will continue to keep our eyes on the ball,” the governor said.
He also went further to announce that the new retirement age for nurses in the state will be extended from 60 to 65 years.
Otti made this pronouncement on Friday at the Government House, Umuahia during his monthly media parley with the press.
He mentioned that this is part of the efforts by the government to reorganize the health sector. He also reminded newsmen that the government already increased the retirement age for teachers from 60 years to 65 years.
While taking questions from journalists, he said efforts are being made to collaborate with international medical missions, which invlude Extended Hands and Lifted Hands organisations. And that this move will make the project easier.
Otti said, “We are committing everything to this reasons being that it will be one of our signature projects and the whole idea is to stop medical tourists into Abia”.
In addition to responding to media men, the governor stated that the government had resolved to package a state-of-the-art medical city.
The committee for the project has been set up and the location for the project has also been concluded, Otti said.
He also reeled out the achievements of his administration in different sectors of the economy including that of agriculture. He said that the government had successfully recovered the palm, rubber, cocoa and other plantations which were concessioned to private individuals by previous administrations.
While responding to a question on the new National minimum wage, the governor assured that a committee on its implementation has been set up.
Otti also used the medium to appreciate the people of Abia State for their support and assured them of a new Abia.
