NWC notifies PDP workers of plan to downsize – TheNigerialawyer

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party
has notified staff at the national headquarters of the party, as
well as those of the Peoples’ Democratic Institute, of its plan to
downsize the workforce.

Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the NWC had already
set up a committee on the matter but had yet to receive and discuss
the report of the committee.

It was further learnt that the downsizing of the workers was the
main agenda of a recent meeting between the staff of PDP and PDI
and an official of PDP NWC, who requested not to be named.

It was also gathered that the party plans to pay the staff that
would be affected their severance allowances as contained in the
party’s Establishment Manual signed by the PDP National Chairman,
Uche Secondus.

According to the highlights of the meeting signed by the
Chairman of the PDP/PDI Staff Welfare Committee, Mr. Innocent
Nwankwo, the monthly wage bill of the establishment staff (PDP/PDI)
amounted to about N15m while their total staff strength is 96.

It was learnt that the plan to downsize the workers was
necessitated by the need to rightsize the workforce, reduce
redundant staff members and the over-bloated wage bill.

Nwankwo said that the rightsizing was not necessarily because
the party’s fortune was dwindling.

He added that the party was still strong financially as it had
16 State Governors, 44 senators, 131 House of Representatives
members and about 390 members of States’ Houses of Assembly.

Another source informed our correspondent that the party had a
few years ago, reduced the salaries of the workers. He, however,
said the party did not owe workers any salary arrears.

He also said some of the staff were being under-utilised, adding
that if they were paid their severance package and other
entitlements, they could become more productive and fulfilled in
their future endeavours.

The statement signed by Nwankwo said, “That NWC notified staff
of their intention to downsize staff. That the report of the
Committee set up to that effect has not been received and discussed
by NWC.

“That at the point of implementation of the report when
submitted, the staff affected will be paid their severance
allowances as contained in the party’s Establishment Manual duly
signed by the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

“On the monthly wage bill of Establishment Staff (PDP/PDI) put
together, the total amount is about N15m, contrary to the earlier
reported N65m. That the total staff strength of both PDP and PDI is
96 in number, contrary to the earlier reported figure of 120 in
number.”

He added, “That PDI which is the research arm of the party has
been on the payroll of the party at inception till date contrary to
the earlier report that it was merged thereby over-blotting the
staff strength of the party since 2016.

“That the fortunes of the party has not nosedived as reported
because as at today, the party can the party boast of 16 governors,
44 senators, 131 House of Representatives and 390 State Assembly
members.”

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan,
said he would not want to discuss whether the party wanted to
downsize its workforce or not.

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