Government of Abia State and Disengagement Policy: ‘Selfish Inconsideration’ Policy.

“ON AUGUST 25, 2011, Abia State Government issued a circular which directed non-indigenes on its employment to disengage and return to their various states by October 1, 2011. The only exceptions were those engaged in the tertiary institutions.

To give effect to the policy, the circular, HAS/S.0071/II/13 issued by the Head of Service, Mr. G.C. Adiele, directed heads of ministries, departments, agencies and Local Government Service Commission “to submit the names of all non-indigenes in their employ on or before 1st of September, 2011, failure of which or any connivance thereto shall attract strict sanctions by Government”.

Entitled, ‘“Back loading on transfer of non-indigenes in Abia state public service to their states of origin”, the Head of Service said, “I write to convey the approval of the Government of Abia state that all non-indigenes working in the public service of Abia state [including local Governments] be transferred to their states of origin with effect from 1st October, 2011. This policy does not apply to tertiary institutions in Abia state”. http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=277480446515&topic=19427.

This has been a decision that has caused a great uproar in the state of Abia since the past 3 months now. At first, everyone thought it was not possible to implement such an inconsiderate policy considering the inhumanness in the decision, but behold the government of Abia State has on the 1^st of October disengaged all the non indigenes in the civil service from their civil work. This policy, which excludes civil servants in the tertiary institutions, has resulted to dis-occupation of more than five thousand workers leaving them to their sufferings.

From this well constructed and inconsiderate letter of dismissal, I can understand that the government of Abia State really has the interest of the indigenes of the state at heart. I can understand that the governor wants to make sure the civil servants are well paid the Federal salary minimum wage of 18 000 naira. I also understand that the government wants to absorb all her citizens displaced from their places of works and homes recently from the current Boko Haram problems in some states in the north. One can simply praise Governor T A Orji for these considerations of goodwill in manifestation to Abians. This decision, following his ideology, may enhance the economic status of the individuals of the state. It may improve the economic life of most Abians. It may put more food on the table and mouth of the so-called ‘citizens’ of Abia state.

But we are all Nigerians. We are all Igbos. We are all from one tribe and culture. We believe in the Christian principle of brotherhood in Christ. We preach and talk about love for one another. I am also sure that the governor and the government of Abia State made of Ibo people still remember one of the popular sayings of our people that ‘odighi nma onye rie, rijuo afo, nwanne ya agbara onu’ (It is not good for one to eat sufficiently while the brother or neighbor goes hungry). I seem to think that this dismissal decision is masterminded by selfish interest very much contradictory to this household saying afro-stated. Now, we have more that 5,000.00 rightful citizens of this country Nigeria protected by the national law of non discrimination of the citizens all over Nigerian, who are languishing in their various homes not sure of their daily meal. Most of these citizens have put in their best to the development of Abia state over 15 to 20 years. It is very unfair and inconsiderate to reward them with ingratitude of job disengagement. I also want to believe that the government was inconsiderate of the sufferings these disengaged civil servants would pass through even if they will one day be absorbed in their so called state of origin. Today they are at home without the basic monthly earning and most of them have family with children. I also want to believe that it is a decision of inconsideration on the part of the government of Abia State that took this decision without reaching a reasonable consensus with the governors of the affected citizens to plan on their absorption without the disability of civil programs of the States involved. It is still in the same spirit of inconsideration that the government of Abia state has ‘stubbornly paid deaf ears to all constructive criticisms and appeals against this policy even by the clergy and the innocent children of the state. I still call on Governor T A Orji and the government of Abia State to give a second consideration to this policy considering the principle of poverty alleviation.