Abia shops for new ABSU vice-chancellor

The Abia State Government is currently recruiting a substantive Vice-Chancellor for Abia State University, Uturu, with the appointment expected to take effect in November 2026. Governor Alex Otti announced this during his monthly media chat in Umuahia on Thursday. The acting Vice-Chancellor's tenure will conclude in October, prompting the start of the recruitment process.

The position has been advertised, and Otti confirmed that provisions have been made for compensating the next of kin of deceased pensioners. Otti's administration is committed to addressing pension issues, including outstanding gratuities worth over N60 billion, gradually. Recently, the state launched a contributory pension scheme for over 36,000 workers, and Otti announced the soon-to-be-opened Citizens’ Engagement Centre, which will allow residents to provide feedback on government policies.

In education, the government has reconstituted the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) and hired 4,074 new teachers to address staffing gaps. Otti also highlighted the state's ranking as the most affordable healthcare provider and third in healthcare quality in Nigeria for 2026.