Why we recalled sacked non-indigene workers – Gov T A ORJI

Enugu — Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State said his decision to recall the non indigenes disengaged from Abia civil service was informed by the desire to have a united country.

Orji particularly emphasised on the unity of the Igbo of the South East whose indigenes were mostly affected by the disengagement.

The governor spoke at the press week of the Enugu Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, at the weekend.


Represented by his Special Assistant, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the governor explained that when he took the decision to disengage the non indigenes, there was an overflowing number of Abia indigenes disengaged from other states’ civil service.

“The idea then was to replace the non indigenes in our civil service with the Abia indigenes sacked from other states’ civil service,” explained the governor.

He said Abia State was not the first to disengage non indigenes in its civil service and enjoined other states in the South East to emulate Abia State in recalling those they disengaged on such grounds.

While assuring that such an obnoxious policy would never occur again in Abia state, Orji urged all Nigerians, particularly Ndigbo residing in Abia state to see themselves as indigenes with full rights and privileges.

Said he:”It is only in Abia state among others in the South east today that non indigenes contest elections and win. Non indigenes are being appointed into political positions in Abia. And so non indigenes should also take their rightful place in the civil service.”

Chairman of the Enugu Correspondents’ Chapel, Mazi Chris Oji had earlier in his welcome address praised the governor for being the first governor in the Southeast to reverse the non indigenes policy and recalling those disengaged.

He also thanked the governor for the role he played in the release of journalists kidnapped near Aba about 2 years ago.

Anglican Bishop of Enugu, Rt Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma, who is also the NUJ chaplain was the chairman of the occasion while Dr. Nnanyelugo Okoro of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka delivered a paper on “Journalists and Social Media: Challenges as Opportunities.”

Source: Vanguard