Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to merit-based leadership, ethical governance and effective public service delivery.

Otti stated this on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the Abia State Leadership Academy Executive Leadership Series for political appointees and senior public servants held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

The programme, organised as part of activities marking the 35th anniversary of Abia State, was themed “Strengthening Government Ethical Leadership and Public Service Delivery.”

The Governor said the Leadership Academy and executive education programmes were established to develop people and institutions capable of sustaining the state’s progress beyond his administration.

According to him, merit, competence and integrity would remain the guiding principles for recruitment and appointments in his administration, stressing that government positions should be earned through open competition rather than political connections.

Otti cited the recruitment of 5,394 teachers, the ongoing issuance of appointment letters to another 4,074 teachers, competitive appointments of Permanent Secretaries and merit-based admissions into professional courses at Abia State University as examples of the administration’s commitment to merit.

“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’,” the Governor said.

He also disclosed that his administration had established a 25-year development plan for Abia, which has been backed by legislation to ensure continuity across successive administrations unless amended or repealed by the State House of Assembly.

The Governor further stressed the importance of accurate data, planning and effective supervision in governance, announcing that the Abia State Bureau of Statistics would soon be established to strengthen data-driven planning and budgeting.

Speaking at the event, former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, said the success of any government depends largely on the administrative capacity and competence of its people.

Chidoka, who delivered a lecture titled “Strengthening Governance: Ethical Leadership and Public Service Delivery,” described state capacity as the ability of government to convert its intentions into actual results.

“There is no high-capacity State without high-capacity people,” he declared, urging political appointees to work closely with career civil servants to ensure continuity and effective implementation of government policies.

He drew lessons from countries including China, Britain, Singapore and Rwanda, emphasising merit, professionalism, execution and accountability as critical factors in building strong institutions.

The Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Meribeole, also urged political appointees and senior public servants to uphold competence, integrity, transparency and accountability, reminding them that public office is a position of trust.

The President of the Abia State Leadership Academy, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, said the academy’s executive education and enterprise development programmes were designed to equip leaders with transformational leadership skills while strengthening the capacity of small businesses.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, political appointees and other senior government officials.