Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has refuted claims made by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, that the state receives between ₦38 billion and ₦40 billion monthly from the Federation Account.
Otti clarified that Abia’s actual monthly allocation, including funds for Local Governments, stands at ₦15.625 billion.
Kalu had made the claim during an Independence anniversary event in Umuahia, where he compared the current administration’s revenue with that of previous governments.
However, in a statement titled “Governance in Abia: Setting the Records Straight”, issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti described Kalu’s figures as inaccurate and misleading.
According to Otti: “Abia’s 2025 year-to-date FAAC allocation (eight months), including local governments, totals ₦125 billion. If the ₦38 billion figure were accurate, it would mean the state had received about ₦304 billion in that period, which is far from the truth.”
Otti also highlighted the challenges his administration faces due to the naira’s depreciation—rising from ₦460 per dollar in 2023 to about ₦1,500 currently—and inflation, which has increased the nominal value of allocations but significantly reduced their purchasing power.
Despite these challenges, he noted, his administration has prudently managed state finances to deliver projects and ensure timely payment of workers.
The governor further pointed out his administration’s efforts to improve the welfare of Abia State workers, including raising the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 and recruiting over 5,000 teachers and additional healthcare personnel.
“Before 2023, Abia had about 31,000 civil servants. Today, the verified number exceeds 67,000, excluding newly recruited teachers,” Otti stated.
He stressed his commitment to transparency, fiscal discipline, and inclusive governance while urging political leaders to base public discourse on verified facts.
Otti welcomed constructive criticism but warned against spreading misinformation that could mislead the public.
The post Abia’s monthly allocation is N15b, not N38b — Otti replies Benjamin Kalu first appeared on Diaspora Digital Media DDM.
