Alex Otti Declares Free, Mandatory Education for All Children, Pays Off 90% of ₦191bn Debt

Governor Alex Otti’s government of Abia State has declared that all children within its borders will receive free and mandatory education, regardless of where they come from.

This is as Governor Otti boasted that without taking out loans, he has managed to pay off 90% of the 191 billion naira debt he inherited.

This initiative, set to start in January 2025, will cover grades one through three in all public schools.

Prince Okey Kanu, the State Commissioner for Information, shared this information during a press briefing following the State Executive Council meeting.

He mentioned that parents and guardians who do not comply with this new policy will be subject to legal action.

“In line with the Abia Child’s Rights Law 2006, it’s now an offence for parents not to send their children or wards to school because the Government has made education free and compulsory,” Kanu warned.

The policy, as articulated by him, aligns with the efforts of the administration led by Governor Alex Otti to provide quality and affordable education within the state.

Additionally, he affirmed that there would be no reversal regarding the relocation of the Law Faculty of Abia State University from the Umuahia campus back to the main campus in Uturu.

He clarified that this decision was made in the public’s best interest.

The Commissioner also announced the awarding of contracts for rehabilitating nine additional roads across various regions of the state, promising to share further details about these new road projects in due course.

Moreover, he revealed that the Government would address all matters related to the implementation of the new minimum wage.

The Commissioner further stated that the Governor had instructed the Commissioner for Works to carry out immediate repairs on the deteriorating section of the Osisioma flyover, which the previous administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu constructed.

He expressed disappointment that “the flyover, which was a flagship project of that administration, has begun to deteriorate within just two years.”

In addition, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, noted that the openings in the flyover were expanding and numerous, but he assured that they “do not pose any immediate threat.”