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Governor Alex Otti of Abia State reiterated his administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, emphasizing that borrowing would be undertaken only when absolutely necessary and in alignment with the public interest.
Speaking in Umuahia on Wednesday during a public lecture commemorating the second anniversary of his administration, Otti highlighted the importance of financial discipline in governance. The lecture, themed “Two Years of Transformation: Sustaining the Momentum,” featured former Finance Minister Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu as keynote speaker.
In response to Dr. Kalu’s observations, Otti stressed that his government had deliberately adopted prudent economic measures to ensure sustainable, long-term development for the state. He said the administration’s approach to public finance was rooted in responsible stewardship and a clear commitment to the welfare of the people, adding that reckless borrowing would be avoided and all financial decisions would be made in the public interest.
His words: “We had to inculcate financial discipline and responsibility in the system to get the state to a greater level.
“We shall only borrow when it is absolutely necessary and not for wasteful expenditure.”
The governor noted that consistent payment of salaries and pensions has been central to his economic approach, arguing that doing so injects money into the local economy and promotes overall stability.
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“It makes more economic sense to pay workers and pensioners than to keep money idle in the bank,” he said.
Otti also used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to deepening reforms and innovation across Abia.
He said: “We shall commit the remaining two years of this term to institutionalizing the reforms that have been initiated.
“Collectively, we shall make Abia the hub of transformational ideas. We shall not be tired of listening to new ideas, for that is the path to continuous growth and progress.”
He thanked Dr. Kalu for delivering the anniversary lecture, noting that the session was organized to enable honest reflection on the administration’s achievements and areas for improvement.
“We put this lecture together to talk to ourselves honestly and evaluate how far we have come, what we have done right, and what we can do better,” he added.
In his lecture, Dr. Kalu encouraged the governor to consider borrowing for capital projects that create value for the state, stating that such borrowing, when properly managed, is beneficial.
Dr. Kalu urged Governor Alex Otti to leverage the media as a strategic partner in advancing Abia State’s development goals. He noted that the media possessed significant potential to contribute to national revival and should not be sidelined but rather given meaningful roles in governance and public engagement.
He commended the governor for the notable pace and quality of development achieved within the state and encouraged the administration to remain firmly rooted in the principles of the rule of law and accountability. According to him, no society could attain true modernization if impunity was allowed to persist, stressing that wrongdoing must have consequences.
The lecture, which drew a broad spectrum of stakeholders, policymakers, and members of the public, provided a platform for assessing the administration’s performance over the past two years and shaping its future direction.
