The Abia State Government has commenced the payment of gratuities to eligible beneficiaries and resolved the issues that led to the recent industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Abia State University, Uturu.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the commencement of gratuity payments followed the recommendations of a state government committee established to oversee the settlement of outstanding liabilities.

According to him, a review of records from the State Pensions Board and the Local Government Pensions Board showed that the total outstanding gratuity liability to state and local government retirees stood at N61.8 billion.

He explained that N7.2 billion of the liability accrued between 2001 and 2010, while N43.6 billion accumulated between 2011 and May 29, 2023. A further N10.9 billion accrued from May 30, 2023, to date.

Kanu said the committee considered the prolonged hardship caused by delayed gratuity payments, the government’s obligations and its financial capacity before recommending a structured payment plan.

He said the total annual financial requirement for settling the liabilities from 2026 to 2031 would be captured in the state’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets.

The commissioner added that payments would be made directly to verified beneficiaries through a dedicated gratuity payment platform linked to the state’s Treasury Single Account.

On the recent ASUU strike at Abia State University, Kanu said the intervention of a committee led by the Secretary to the State Government had resulted in the resolution of the issues that triggered the industrial action.

He noted that Governor Otti had approved the union’s demands as far back as April 2026, stressing that the delay in implementation was caused by administrative and other implementation processes rather than an unwillingness by the government to meet the demands.

“In particular, outstanding check-off dues have been paid. And a new salary scale, consolidated academic teaching allowance, ASCATA, and other related payments have been addressed and will be paid with the August 2026 salary of the affected workers,” Kanu said.

He added that the August salaries were expected to be paid within the week.

Kanu further disclosed that the new salary structure for other staff of Abia State University had also been processed and would be reflected in their August salaries.

“Consequently, it is safe to assume that all the issues regarding action by ASUU have been concluded or resolved,” he stated.

The commissioner said the Otti administration remained committed to constructive engagement with ASUU and other organised labour unions, stressing that workers’ welfare remained a priority of the government.

He, however, clarified that the issue surrounding the suspension of a lecturer at the university remained an internal matter for the institution.