There have been reports describing the contentious Housing Allowance’s approval and distribution by members of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) and Secretariat Staff.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, four top NWC members—Taofeek Arapaja, Vice National Chairman (South), Chief Dan Orbih, Woman Leader, and Prof. Stella Efface-Attoe—had refunded funds totaling between N28.8 million and N34 million that were allegedly transferred into their accounts without their knowledge.
The PDP NWC members had voiced their concern with a report in a national daily that stated the money transferred into their accounts was a bribe to win their support to hide an alleged financial irregularity in a letter addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
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This happened a few days after Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike accused Ayu of collecting money from a presidential candidate in Lagos and failing to transfer it to the party’s account during a media briefing.
Additionally, there were rumors that the main opposition party’s earnings from the selling of application forms for various political positions could not be accounted for.
The party leadership approved the disbursement of a total of N1.3 billion, according to a document seen by Newsmen.
The choice was made in response to a document delivered by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s national secretary, at a meeting of the NWC where 13 members were present and 6 members put in excuse letters.
National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Ali Odefa, his counterpart from the South-South, Dan Orbih, as well as their counterparts from the South West and North Central, Hon. Olasoji Adagunde and Theophilus Dakas Shan, respectively, all sent in letters of apology.
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Prof. Stella Efface-Attoe, a National Woman Leader, and Setonji Koshoedo, a Deputy National Secretary, were also present.
Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Illiya Damagun, presided over the meeting in place of the PDP National Chairman, who was out of the country at the time.
The document read in part “Housing Allowance for NWC/ Staff: The National Secretary presented a memo requesting NWC to approve the payment of Housing allowance to members of the NWC and the Staff.”
In the comments section, the document read: “The National Vice Chairman NW, suggested that the memo be amended by separating Deputy National Officers from NWC and also said the housing allowance should be approved considering how much it would help members and staff.
“The National Treasurer commended the National Secretary for ensuring that staff were also beneficiaries of the housing allowance.
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“The National Auditor suggested that the two-year salary set aside should be invested.”
Subsequently, “The NWC approved a total sum of N1 billion, three hundred and seventy-eight million two hundred and eleven thousand, five hundred and eight Naira (N1, 378, 211,506) Only for the payment of Housing Allowance to NWC, Deputy National Officers and Staff.”
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