The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has notified staff at its headquarters and at the Peoples Democratic Institute, of its plan to sack them.
The NWC set up a committee on the matter but is 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.
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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.
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.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
