WHEN the Abia State government transferred non-indigenous civil servants in the state to their states of origin on transfer of service basis, some armchair and uninformed critics, including a Catholic Bishop took on the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji on the pages of newspapers without any cogent or verifiable reasons, other than sentiments and emotions which have no place in administrative or civil service rules.

While the puerile criticisms against the well-intentioned and people-oriented policy lasted, the critics and their paymasters never offered superior arguments to buttress their claims, but Governor Orji knowing what he wanted for his people refused to budge. He remained focused and consistent with the reforms in the state civil service which, he has consistently maintained, has come to stay for good.

The critics never mentioned that most civil servants in the state, especially the commercial city of Aba before the policy implementation, were traders-workers who only report to duties to collect salaries and go back to their shops to trade, while the State suffered. They never condemned the pockets of resistance by some of the state civil servants on the biometric data capturing introduced by the state government as part of the reform in the service.

When most states workers across the country were at loggerheads with their governors over the N18000 minimum wage which even made some of them to go on strike and institute legal action against their states governments, Abia was an exception as Orji patiently dialogued with the workers and assured that he would pay them the minimum wage. The workers knowing that Orji was one of them before and had never disappointed them since he assumed office as governor in 2007 never disagreed with him throughout the dialogue.

As all these were ongoing, none of the armchair critics or their paymasters commended Governor Orji for his mature, diplomatic and fatherly approach to the minimum wage issue with the workers. Even when the Governor approved the sum of N20,100 as the new minimum wage for workers in the State, none of the hatchet writers who have been criticizing him commended the package.

But while their commendations might not be needed, because their ulterior motive of writing against the policy initially is already known to the public, there is need for in-depth research and investigation before writing and concluding articles or stories on issues. Surprisingly and far from what some of his colleagues in other states approved as minimum wage, Governor Orji approved the payment across board for all workers, irrespective of their grade levels.

Governor Orji proved his detractors wrong as the workers had the last laugh with a better pay package, more than many of their colleagues across the country. According to Governor Orji, the payment of the new minimum wage took off on December 1 this year and the arrears of the minimum wage which started from April 1 this year will be paid from January next year. The payment of the arrears, according to the Governor, will be spread for a period of 12 months.

With this development, it is obvious that Governor Orji has scored another mileage and has proved to be a better leader than other governors who had harassed, intimidated and suppressed the workers over the implementation of the minimum wage.

Virtually all state governors disagreed and quarreled with their workers over the implementation of the minimum wage, with the exception of Abia State. In some states, government activities were grounded for weeks and months before government opened dialogue with the workers. And in other states, labour leaders were either compromised against the wishes of majority of the workers or were detained on the order of government for embarking on strike.

But in Abia State, the approach by the State governor and the workers to peacefully resolve the matter which led to the signing of an agreement for the implementation of the new minimum wage, was quite different, unique and encouraging. It is a true testimony of the cordial relationship and mutual understanding existing between Governor Orji and the workers. It is also a proof that the Governor has the magic wand to manage both material and human resources effectively which has become the greatest challenge of our leadership in the country in recent times.

But those who know Governor Orji’s track record would vividly remember that since he assumed office in 2007, workers have never gone on strike in the state. A record that is unprecedented in the leadership circle of the country as one cannot easily recollect states where workers have not gone on strike in the past five years or so for one reason or the other.

One may argue that such was possible because Governor Orji was formerly a career civil servant who understands the intrigues and processes in the service, but such arguments lack substance because there are career civil servants in position of authority today who don’t know and cannot manage human beings working under them well.

The reason for the success is that Governor Orji, being an embodiment of humility, has exceptional skills in managing any situation around him. That has been and will ever remain his greatest strength. When many had thought that the State would not be liberated from the stranglehold of one family who held it ransom for years, Governor Orji broke the jinx to the surprise of many doubting Thomases.

Before the liberation, the Governor never panicked, but waited for the right time and atmosphere to strike against the now conquered godfather. Today the rest is history as the godfather and his political strategists in the state have kissed the dust for the good of the state.

It is obvious that in the days ahead as governor of Abia state, Chief Orji will score more firsts where others have failed as he has vowed to continue to ensure the welfare of the workers as well as provision of more democracy dividends for the people of the state.

Mr. STANLEY IKEJIOGU, a surveyor,  wrote from Abuja.