‘No Governor, Deputy List in Teachers’ Recruitment – Abia State, Otti Says, Hails Recruitment Board

In a clear departure from agelong aberration in recruitment processes across Nigeria, Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti says there were no governor’s, deputy governor’s or any other special list in the just concluded recruitment of teachers in the State.

Dr Otti, who said this on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at Salvation Ministries, Okigwe Road, Aba, Abia State, where he went to worship unannounced, disclosed that the newly recruited teachers would resume work on Monday, September 22, 2025.

“In everything we do, we put righteousness first. In our recruitment, we hired 5,394 teachers. On the 22nd of this month, they would all resume (work).”
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‎”But the interesting thing is that there was no list – no Governor’s list, no Deputy Governor’s list, no Senator’s list, like it used to be in the past.”
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‎”Everything was done transparently. You apply, you write the test, you sit for the interview and then we take people from number one until we draw the line,” the Governor stated amidst applause from the congregation.

He commended the State Recruitment Board for successfully carrying out the recruitment exercise across the 17 LGAs of the State, and for maintaining the standard set by his administration.

According to him, the recent recruitment of teachers was done solely on merit and devoid of factors such as godfatherism, ethnicity, tribe or even religion.

While disclosing that the employment was open to all residents of Abia State, Otti emphasised that it was wrong to put someone who did not do well above someone who did well.

The Governor urged the new and already existing civil servants in the State to put in their best efforts in their respective jobs, stating that his administration has zero tolerance for negligence and poor attitude to work.

He expressed his administration’s commitment to sustain the early and consistent payment of civil servants’ salaries as it has been doing since assuming office in 2023.

He also urged Abians to keep paying their taxes as that would enable his administration to continue the good work it has been on.

The Governor thanked the Church for its continued prayers and support, saying that his government was institutionalised by God and would not deliberately do anything wrong.
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‎From the Church service, Governor Otti headed to Ovom Street, which is currently undergoing reconstruction after a gully erosion destroyed the road, cutting off the commuters in the area, and leading to the collapse of buildings and loss of livelihood before the State Government’s intervention.

During the inspection, Dr Otti expressed satisfaction at the level of work done and assured the crowd that trooped out to greet him with solidarity songs that the work would be completed before the end of the year.