Abia State Prioritizes Merit, Integrity Over Patronage in Appointments, Says Governor Otti

Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti is ushering in a new era of governance, asserting that merit, competence, and integrity will be the exclusive basis for all appointments and recruitments. He declared the end of the "somebody's friend" or "somebody's wife" approach that has historically influenced public service selections.

Otti articulated this vision during the Abia State Leadership Academy Executive Leadership Series in Umuahia, an event marking the state's 35th anniversary. The program, themed "Strengthening Government Ethical Leadership and Public Service Delivery," aims to build robust institutions and cultivate a new generation of leaders capable of sustaining the state's development.

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We had started, last week, interviewing those that had applied, were screened through computer-based testing, passed and then the oral interviews. Since we came in 2023, we made the appointment of Permanent Secretaries competitive. No longer, ‘this is somebody’s friend, this is somebody’s wife’, No.

He cited concrete examples of this new approach, including competitive processes for admissions into Abia State University's Medicine and Law programs, the recruitment of over 5,300 teachers, and the appointment of Permanent Secretaries since 2023. "We had started, last week, interviewing those that had applied, were screened through computer-based testing, passed and then the oral interviews," Otti said, reinforcing that these positions are no longer based on personal connections.

To ensure long-term progress, Governor Otti revealed the establishment of a 25-year development plan for Abia, which has been legislated to prevent future administrations from easily discarding it. Additionally, plans are underway to create the Abia State Bureau of Statistics, aiming to enhance data availability for effective planning and budgeting. Otti stressed that accurate data, coupled with proper planning and supervision, are crucial for successful governance.

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It is the essence of this Leadership Academy, the essence of executive education that we are having today. That is how we want to build our own leadership.