Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Abia State Government has officially commenced the payment of outstanding gratuities to state and local government retirees, while also resolving the issues that triggered the recent industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu. The announcement was made on Monday, August 24, 2026, by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, following the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
According to the government, a committee established to oversee the gratuity payment process reviewed records from both the State Pensions Board and the Local Government Pensions Board, revealing a total outstanding gratuity liability of N61.8 billion owed to retirees from both sectors. The breakdown shows that N7.2 billion accumulated between 2001 and 2010, N43.6 billion between 2011 and May 29, 2023, and N10.9 billion from May 30, 2023, to the present. Kanu noted that successive administrations, particularly those of former governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu, had paid less than 0.01 per cent of gratuities owed to retirees who left the service between 2011 and May 2023.
To address the massive backlog, the committee recommended that the annual financial implications of the payments from 2026 to 2031 be captured in the state's Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets. The government acknowledged the difficulty of clearing a 24-year backlog overnight without destabilising other areas of public spending. Payments will be made directly to verified beneficiaries through a dedicated gratuity payment platform linked to the state's Treasury Single Account, with biometric validation to prevent duplication and fraudulent claims. The government will prioritise the oldest arrears, while beneficiaries with complaints can contact the government through a dedicated helpline.
On the situation at ABSU, the government confirmed that all issues responsible for the strike have been resolved following the intervention of a committee set up by Governor Otti. The Commissioner explained that the demands of the university workers had actually received the Governor's approval as far back as April 2026, but implementation was delayed by administrative processes. Outstanding check-off dues have now been paid, while the new salary structure and consolidated academic allowances for academic staff will be reflected in the August 2026 salary payments. The revised salary scale for non-academic staff has also been processed and is expected to be paid within the same period.
The government, however, distanced itself from the suspension of a lecturer at ABSU, describing the disciplinary action as an internal matter for the autonomous institution. The controversy surrounding the suspension of a young Professor of Economics at the university, Nnamdi Nwaeze, had recently brought the debate over lecturers' remuneration into public focus. The union's last stated position was that it would not call off the strike until the suspension of Prof. Nwaeze was lifted. However, the government maintains that all issues have been resolved and workers' welfare remains a priority.
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