Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti has stated that the government is working on recalling the non-indigenes who were disengaged from the state service more than 12 years ago during the administration of Governor Theodore Orji.

Their sudden disengagement which was tagged ‘backwarding’ by the then state Head of Service Mr Godswill Adiele affected more than 20,000 workers, some of whom were inherited from the old Imo state or born in Abia, long before its creation, when the government service did not discriminate along indigenship line.

Otti disclosed this during his August monthly chat with journalists last night while responding to questions.

He said that the likelihood followed the sustained appeals by the affected former non-indigene workers backward to their states of origin without allegedly, payment of their due benefits.

He reiterated that non-indigene residents in Abia State would continue to enjoy citizenship status and rights irrespective of their tribe, religion, or state of birth or origin but must pay their taxes and abide by the extant laws.

The governor also said with the government being a continuum, he would continue to settle arrears of workers’ salaries he inherited as money became available but without defaulting from paying the salaries as at when due from the day he came into office.

He also debunked the insinuation in some quarters of imminent retrenchment of workers saying, “there is no intent of massive retrenchment of workers rather, we will continue to ensure that the state service is enhanced for increased productivity.”

The governor who also reported that the government has commenced training of 2,000 Master Trainers of teachers who would thereafter train others, added that another group has similarly been saddled with the responsibility of looking into the curricula for pupils in the state.

While he said that the needfuls are being done in environmental sanitation and waste management, he said there is a projected plan of turning waste into wealth for the benefit of all and sundry from whom, he solicited the necessary support.

Describing his Labour Party national stakeholders meeting he hosted last week in Umuahia, as a bid to restore peace in the party, which he said anyone who followed what happened, adjudged it a successful meeting with the desired outcome.

Otti also reacted to the reported outburst of Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Abia origin, who said that he (Otti) will be the last LP Governor in Abia state.

“I chose not to respond to it because it’s foolhardy to talk about what will happen tomorrow. Power belongs to God and He gives it to who He wills.” (The Guardian)

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