By Tony Edike & Anayo Okoli

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo umbrella socio cultural organization, has strongly condemned the expulsion of non-indigene workers from the Abia State civil service, saying the development was not in the interest of unity and progress of the Igbo nation.

The Abia State Government has, however, defended the action, saying it was meant to reduce the wage burden following its implementation of the new N18,000 minimum wage.

National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Mr. Ralph Ndigwe, who made the position of the organization on the issue known, said it was unbecoming of governors to ask non-indigenes to return to their states at a time the apex organization was doing everything possible to sustain the unity among Ndigbo.