The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has decided to raise the monthly salaries of all its elected officials, starting from the ward level up to the state level.
This decision was made after a meeting of the State Working Caretaker Committee, led by the acting chairman, George Turnah. At the meeting, a committee report was presented. This report had been prepared earlier to look into the issue of low earnings among party officials.
The report pointed out that the current salaries, especially for officials at the grassroots, were too low. For example, ward executives had been earning ₦5,000 each month, while local government executives were getting ₦20,000. The party said these amounts were not fair for those who work to support and build its structure.
With the new decision, salaries have been increased across the board. Local Government Chairmen will now be paid ₦621,000 every month. Vice-chairmen and secretaries will each get ₦336,000, and other local government executives will receive ₦196,000 monthly.
At the ward level, the chairman’s new salary is ₦336,000. The ward vice-chairman and secretary will each earn ₦196,000, and the remaining fourteen members of the ward executive will be paid ₦120,000 each.
These new salaries are now in line with what officials in similar positions earn in the Bayelsa State government.
Party officials in the senatorial districts, as well as non-working committee members at the state level, will also benefit. They will now earn ₦621,000 each. Meanwhile, members of the State Working Committee will be paid ₦1,048,500 monthly.
These payments are set to begin right away. The acting secretary has been asked to inform the state governor, Douye Diri, who is also the party’s leader in Bayelsa State.
In addition to the salary review, the caretaker committee also expressed support for two national PDP officers — Chief Dan Osi Orbih, the National Vice Chairman for the South-South Zone, and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary — praising them for their efforts in strengthening the party.
