Two months after losing power at the national level and in majority of the states, the national leadership of the former ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, has concluded plans to sack half of its workforce.
Towards this end, the National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, has communicated the decision of the National Working Committee of the party to all its directors.
Oladipo made the party’s decision known via a memo dated July 29, 2015, which was directed to “all directors and PS/DD/HOD/SAs/PAs and Establishment Staff” of the party in Abuja.
It was titled “Re-organisation and restructuring of staff at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party.”
Oladipo said the decision to cut down on the number of staff and other measures were taken at the 406 meeting of the NWC, where he said the report “on the reorganisation and restructuring of staff at the national secretariat” and decisions was approved.
Apart from the reduction in the number of the staff on the payroll at the party’s headquarters, he said the salaries and allowances of those to be left behind would also be cut by as much as 50 per cent.
He listed the decisions to include “reduction of the allowance of all NWC members by 50 per cent and reduction in the number of security personnel attached to the national officers by 50 per cent.”
Other measures included “reduction of the salaries and allowances of all staff (Establishment and Staff of NWC members) by 50 per cent, effective August, 2015.
“Abolition of Research Directorate and transfer of its functions to the Peoples Democratic Institute.”
Oladipo added that “Establishment staff who would remain are required to obtain individual letter of revalidation from their state chapters within one month of this circular as to their suitability for service at the national secretariat.”
Before the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan, who was the presidential candidate of the party, by President Muhammadu Buhari, who was the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, the PDP was usually being funded by the Presidency.
Apart from this, it also got money from the state governors, majority of whom were unable to deliver their states to the party during the last elections.
The party also got money from selling of forms to aspirants. But a source within the party said the “party lacks transparency and proper accountability.”
Investigations by our correspondent indicated that the decision to reduce the staff strength of the party was taken about a month ago by its NWC.
The NWC was said to have been angered by the decision of the workers of the party to collect furniture allowance.
Besides, the members of staff of the party were said to be privy to several withdrawal of money by the NWC members.
A senior staff of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We are in trouble in this party. The NWC members are lords unto themselves.
“There is no one to control them and the finances of the party. They have paid themselves several allowances. Even during the last Sallah break, they took money.
“But because we demanded for our furniture allowance, see the memo they gave us. The idea behind this is to sack us and then they will bring in their cronies.”