Non-indigene employees recalled from sack have expressed gratitude to the Abia State government for heeding their plea.
Among them are Ikechukwu Osueke, Chidiebere Igwilo, Nkemjika Nneji and Precious Anyanwu, who said their disengagement had caused them hardship without means of livelihood.
Abia was part of Imo State until it was created as a new state in August 1991 by the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida. The two states share many things in common.
In October 2011, however, Abia decided to weed out non-indigenes from its civil service.
Although the decision drew outrage and condemnation in some quarters, the government insisted that it could no longer cope with the huge salary bill brought on by the new national minimum wage law.
Abia defended its action with the argument that its indigenes working in neighbouring states were similarly disengaged some years ago and no one took notice and it reabsorbed them.
Abia sacked over 4,000 non indigenes from its workforce, but discovered that it was hasty decision and quickly recalled from among them its female indigenes married to non Abians.
The hurt of the firings was exacerbated by the relocation of the main market and the spare parts and automobile/mechanic village, both in Umuahia, in the government’s urban renewal effort.
Non indigenes in the markets perceived the relocations as a deliberate design to drive them away from the state.
To restore confidence, last week Abia recalled 2,700 workers of Imo State origin disengaged in October 2011.
Head of Service, Godson Adiele, said the recall was based on humanitarian grounds, as some had put in several years of service in the state. The workers cut across all cadres.
State Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Sylvanus Eyeh, described the development as healthy for workers.
He advised those reabsorbed to rededicate themselves to the service of the state and diligently discharge their duties.
Information Commissioner, Eze Chikamnayo, had disclosed in February that the state government would recall the workers because of improved internally generated revenue.
