Governor Alex Otti of Abia has stopped payment of frivolous expenses such as paying a certain amount of money (largesse) to ‘stakeholders’ in the state.

Otti said that his administration has initiated measures to cut down the cost of governance to the barest minimum and save money.

The governor said this at his monthly media interactive session held at the Government House, Umuahia on Sunday night.

He said that money saved from frivolous spending by past administrations had made it possible for his government to pay salaries and pensions as and when due and also mobilise contractors to site for the ongoing major developmental projects.

The governor said that cutting down the cost of governance remained a necessity for achieving enhanced development and economic stability in the state.

“We have been able to save money from FAAC by stopping frivolous expenses such as paying a certain amount of money to ‘stakeholders’.

“In the new Abia, if you want to get money, then you have to work and earn money,” he said.

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Otti said that the present administration was focused on financial reengineering to ensure that the resources of the state were properly handled by professionals for best results.

He assured the people that their money is in safe hands.

He further said that the government under his watch had not taken any loan for the execution of projects in Abia.

According to him, the government was circumspect about borrowing because of the outstanding N192 billion loan it inherited from the Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration.

Otti said that the government would certainly borrow at the appropriate time to finance the gigantic projects it had started.

He said that already the government had initiated discussions with some financial institutions for such facilities.

The Star