PDP Broke, Sacks 4 Directors, 58 Other staff

The books of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) appears to be in the red as its leadership yesterday cut down the workforce by 50 per cent

Overall, 62 officials and other members of staff were affected in the exercise.

A break of the figure showed that four directors, two deputy directors, six assistant directors, 17 supervisors, 14 intermediate staff, 19 junior staff lost their jobs.

The memo containing the list of the affected personnel was signed by the PDP deputy national secretary, Mr. Agbo Emmanuel.

It was dated March 5, 2020 and pasted on the notice boards on March 6 at the party’s secretariat. It was titled: “Disengagement of staff” and addressed to all the workers from the PDP National Working Committee (NEC).

NAIJA LIVE TV Weekend recalls that the PDP leadership and the employees had been at loggerheads over salaries and other allowances since 2015.

However, plans to prune the workforce became public in 2019, as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prince Uche Secondus, finalized arrangements in light of restructuring of the PDP’s administration.

The affected workers had maintained that they will not accept the restructuring plan unless they are guaranteed their full entitlements.

The memo on the disengaged workers read in part: “The NEC members on staff rationalization in the National Executive Committee meeting of February 22 was mandated to implement the committee’s recommendation of downsizing 50 per cent of the staff strength.

“Affected staff must first show evidence of disengagement signed to, by the national secretary’s office before payment. All staff have the option of resignation, and such a letter should only be addressed to the national secretary.

“All affected staff must be cleared and issued clearance certificates indicating that they are not financially or materially indebted to the party. Consequently, upon the above, all affected staff must hand over all party documents, materials, office keys and their identify cards to enable clearance.

“Management wishes the affected staff best of luck in their future endeavor,” it ended.

However, a staff of the party source confided in NAIJA LIVE TV Weekend that most of affected workers will get their severance package next week.

A member of the NWC said that the decision to downsize the staff was approved at the last meeting.

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