6th August, 2015
The brickbats between members of staff and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seemed to has been laid to rest, following the intervention of the top management, comprising Directors, deputy Directors and Assistant Directors.
Workers serving in the Abuja PDP National Secretariat under the aegis of Staff Welfare Committee have been at loggerheads since last week over moves to reduce the reduce the number of workers by 50 per cent and also to cut the wages by the same margin.
The PDP NWC had argued that the measure was necessary because of paucity of funds to pay the workers and carry out other administrative duties. But the workers fired back, accusing members of NWC of mismanaging the sum of N12 billion realized by the party from sale of nomination forms in the run up to the 2015 elections.
The workers had also asked the anti graft agencies to probe members of the NWC over the N12 billion which they claimed would have been available for payment of wages if it was not mismanaged.
But in a statement on Thursday, PDP Director of Administration, Alhaji Gurama Bawa said a meeting between the members of the Staff Welfare Committee and the Management Staff led to the truce.
He said, “The Management Committee has taken up the issues with the NWC and there are real prospects for an amicable solution.
“The Staff Management Committee notes with regrets that the frustration arising from the sudden release of the reorganization circular inflamed passions to the extent that allegations were being peddled most of which were based on mere speculations.
“We wish to reassure the teeming members, supporters and stakeholders of PDP that all efforts are being made to resolve this internal family problem and to ensure that the party comes out stronger.
“All staff are enjoined to note that the survival of the party is critical and should be vigilant to ensure that those who do not mean well for the PDP do not capitalize on this usual administrative problems to ridicule the party.”