The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has decided to increase the monthly pay of its elected officials at all levels, starting from the ward level up to the state.
This new decision came after a meeting held by the State Working Caretaker Committee, which is led by the acting chairman, George Turnah.
During the meeting, a report was submitted by a committee that had earlier been set up to look into the poor earnings of party officials.
Based on the report, the party leaders agreed that the current pay was too low, especially for those working at the grassroots level.
Before now, ward executives were earning ₦5,000 monthly, while local government executives got ₦20,000.
The party found these amounts unfair for those who serve and support its structure at various levels.
With the new plan, all party officials from the ward to the state level will now be paid better.
For instance, Local Government Chairmen will now earn ₦621,000 monthly.
Vice-chairmen and secretaries at that level will receive ₦336,000 each.
Other local government executives will get ₦196,000 monthly.
At the ward level, the chairman will now be paid ₦336,000 every month.
The ward vice-chairman and secretary will each receive ₦196,000, while the remaining fourteen members of the ward executive are set to earn ₦120,000 each.
These amounts have been matched with the pay grades of similar political roles within the Bayelsa State government.
Party officials working in the senatorial districts and non-working committee members at the state level will also benefit from the new salary structure.
They will now receive ₦621,000 each, while members of the State Working Committee are to earn ₦1,048,500 monthly.
These payments are set to begin immediately, and the acting secretary has been asked to inform the state governor, Douye Diri, who is also the leader of the party in the state.
Alongside this decision, the caretaker committee also passed a vote of confidence in two national officers — the National Vice Chairman of the South-South Zone, Chief Dan Osi Orbih, and the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu — for their roles in moving the party forward.
