The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has accused the Abia State Authorities of poor governance, lack of transparency, and failure to translate the state’s improved funds into tangible growth for residents.
In an announcement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Mr Kalu mentioned the state, underneath Governor Alex Otti, has been substituting real governance with propaganda and theatrics, regardless of receiving what he described as file month-to-month allocations and federal interventions.
The rebuttal got here in response to an earlier press assertion issued by Ferdinand Ekeoma, particular adviser on media to Mr Otti, who criticised Mr Kalu’s remarks concerning the state’s efficiency underneath the Labour Celebration-led administration.
Mr Kalu represents the Bende federal constituency of Abia State within the decrease chamber of the Nationwide Meeting.
Background to the row
The political change started after Mr Kalu, whereas addressing members of the Renewed Hope Companions (RHP) in Umuahia on Sunday, declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was on track to take over energy in Abia State in 2027.
He mentioned the Otti administration had underperformed regardless of what he described as elevated income inflows.
In response, Mr Otti’s media aide launched an announcement titled “Governance in Abia, Benjamin Kalu Wants Tutorials Extra Than He Wants a Microphone,” accusing the deputy speaker of ignorance and political grandstanding.
Mr Kalu’s workplace, nevertheless, maintained that his remarks have been primarily based on details contained in official monetary paperwork of the Abia State Authorities.
Abia’s funds underneath scrutiny
Citing the Abia State Authorities’s Q2 2025 Monetary Report, the deputy speaker’s workplace mentioned the state obtained a mean of ₦38 billion month-to-month from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), internally generated income (IGR), and varied federal interventions, together with flood aid and agricultural assist funds.
In response to the report printed on the state’s official web site (abiastate.gov.ng), Abia obtained over ₦114 billion between April and June 2025. But, the assertion alleged, the state stays underdeveloped, with poor street infrastructure, unpaid pensions, and deteriorating public colleges and hospitals.
“The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, PhD, CFR, was, due to this fact, completely appropriate by saying that Abia State obtained as a lot as ₦38 billion each month throughout the QTR 2 2025, however the folks don’t have anything to indicate for it,” the assertion learn.
Change price not an excuse – Kalu’s camp
The assertion dismissed Mr Otti’s repeated declare that change price fluctuations had affected state initiatives, calling it an “excuse for inefficiency.”
It argued that different South-east states, similar to Enugu, Anambra, and Imo, have been delivering main infrastructure initiatives underneath the identical nationwide financial situations.
The assertion additionally accused the Otti administration of neglecting pensioners, alleging that Abia stays the one state that has not paid gratuities since 2023, regardless of receiving near ₦1 trillion in complete income.
“As a substitute of addressing this injustice, the Otti administration coerced retirees into forfeiting over ₦70 billion in entitlements. This solely exposes the hypocrisy of a authorities that retains sloganeering “New Abia” with out residing it,” it added.
Employees’ welfare and wage issues
Mr Kalu’s workplace additional criticised the state authorities over the alleged poor therapy of employees. It mentioned whereas some states had carried out the ₦70,000 minimal wage, civil servants in Abia nonetheless earn lower than half that quantity.
On the Abia State Educating Hospital, the assertion mentioned, junior well being employees reportedly earn ₦29,000 month-to-month, whereas newly recruited nurses obtain about ₦80,000, far under the Consolidated Well being Wage Construction (CONHESS) benchmark of ₦340,000 carried out elsewhere.
“How can a authorities that preaches ‘compassion and reform’ deal with its employees worse than its predecessors?” it queried.
Questions over lacking funds and mortgage utilisation
The assertion alleged that regardless of having a workforce of about 67,000 staff, the federal government spends about ₦6.7 billion month-to-month on salaries, however has about ₦31 billion unaccounted for every month.
It additionally accused the administration of withholding details about how funds are being utilised.
“The crucial query stays: What precisely is the Abia State Authorities doing with the remaining billions? The administration has offered no solutions, solely excuses. Transparency, it seems, just isn’t a part of its governance vocabulary,” the assertion mentioned.
On borrowing, the deputy speaker’s workplace referenced the $263.8 million African Growth Financial institution (AfDB)-led mortgage just lately authorized for Abia, together with $125 million already disbursed by the Islamic Growth Financial institution.
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“But, regardless of this large monetary injection, there is no such thing as a hint of corresponding growth on the bottom. No landmark or Iconic mission, no transformative infrastructure, and no strategic funding have emerged from this borrowing spree. If these funds have been really utilised for growth, Abia wouldn’t nonetheless be grappling with pothole-ridden roads and derelict public establishments,” it added.
‘Governance changed by propaganda’
The assertion accused the Otti administration of focusing extra on publicity than on growth, alleging that Abia has been “bombarded with staged photograph ops, documentaries, and well-scripted speeches that remember imaginary achievements.”
“But, past the cameras, the truth of life in Abia stays grim. Colleges are in shambles, hospitals lack important services, roads are deteriorating, and the financial system is stagnant,” it acknowledged.
Mr Kalu maintained that his feedback weren’t private or politically motivated however a “sober reflection of the reality Abians already know.”
“The Alex Otti administration should cease chasing critics and begin delivering outcomes. With ₦38 billion flowing into its coffers each month, a number of federal interventions, and worldwide loans at its disposal, Abia State has no excuse to stay on this state of decay,” the assertion added.
