Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has assured that all non-indigenes disengaged from the Abia civil service will be recalled.

He gave the assurance in Umuahia when he met with the Association of All States Resident in Umuahia who paid him a courtesy visit led by Chief Joseph Akwobi.

The Governor said the process has started with the reinstatement of more than 2000 of the disengaged non-indigene workers and told those not yet recalled in the teaching and other categories that they have not been forgotten.

According to him, the re-absorption of the disengaged workers is being done in phases to ensure that those taken back are paid their salaries, saying that he is conscious of the effect of the policy on the affected persons.

The Governor said he expected reciprocation from other South-east governors who disengaged Abia indigenes from their workforce.

He assured the non-indigenes resident in the state of the safety of their lives and property and recalled that Abians have lived cordially with them over the years.

According to him, his administration has greatly empowered non-indigenes resident in the state both in appointments and giving contracts to them and never discriminated against them.

He however thanked them for their contributions towards the growth of the state’s economy as well as their support to his administration.

Earlier, the president, Association of All States Resident in Umuahia, Chief Innocent Egbughara, explained that they changed the name of the association from Association of Umuahia Urban Dwellers Development Union to include non-indigenes outside the urban areas and thanked the Governor for reengaging some sacked indigenes back into service and appealed to him to recall the rest.

He commended the Governor for the management of security in the state and for extending appointments and his empowerment programme to them as well as the maiden Abia Revenue Summit organized by the government to checkmate double taxation by revenue agents.