Following protests by workers of the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, policemen have taken over the secretariat.The workers are protesting alleged corrupt practices of the party leaders and they have threatened to drag them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the protesters, a circular signed by the party’s National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo, conveyed the party’s decision to slash their salary by 50 per cent and reduce the workforce by half.
But the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, vowed to see the matter to a logical conclusion.
The statement reads: “The attention of the NWC has been drawn to the unnecessary and unfortunate reactions of junior, intermediate and supervisory members of staff under the auspices of PDP Staff Welfare Committee in reaction to NWC directive on reorganisation and restructuring of the party.
“The NWC appreciates the concerns of stakeholders and assures members that it will not be deterred in its sworn responsibility to reposition, re-organise and re-structure the party.
“For the purpose of clarity, the process of staff re-organisation is a sub-component of the reform process in the party. Consequently, the NWC affirms that the internal memo emanating from the office of the National Secretary stands.
“The NWC will not be deterred, blackmailed or cowed from taking objective steps necessary for sound political health, astute opposition and general re-organisation.
“NWC assures members and Nigerians that finances of the party have been handled in line with standard financial regulations governing political parties and the Constitution of the PDP.
“Subsequently, as custodians of the PDP Constitution, the NWC will be guided by the provisions of the Constitution in dealing with all matters related to staff, especially schedule IV (staff rules) of the 2012 Constitution as amended”.
The workers and party leaders have been at war since the circular was distributed last Wednesday