A member of the Peoples Democratic Party National Executive Committee, Ibrahim Tsauri, explained why the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu might be probed.
Tsauri who noted that the approval limit of the chairman is N10 million said Ayu will be probed for extending his limit without approval from NEC and NEC.
Ayu had come under attack for approving and paying ₦1 billion housings allowance to members of the NWC, a fund which was alleged to be a bribe to forestall his resignation call.
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party National Executive Committee, Ibrahim Tsauri, explained why the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu might be probed.
Tsauri noting that the approval limit of the chairman is N10 million, said Ayu will be probed for extending his limit without approval from NEC and NEC.
Ayu had come under attack for approving and paying ₦1 billion housings allowance to members of the NWC, a fund which was alleged to be a bribe to forestall his resignation call.
Albeit, Tsauri maintained that there’s nothing wrong with approving housing allowances for NWC members, the former PDP National Secretary, however, noted that such must have the approval of the working committee.
He stated, “This is only becoming an issue because there is a crisis in the party. I was the only National Secretary who spent four years in office so I think I know much of these things. I am talking to you, as a person who is experienced and knows the constitution of the PDP.
“What the chairman did is normally done by the financial secretary. If there is money available, what the party does is that the NWC will instruct the financial secretary to make a budget of what is to be given to NWC members. They don’t have salaries; they only go with these legitimate allowances.
“If people are complaining that the money is too much, that is a different thing. But for housing allowance, it is legitimate. There has to be a budget and the budget has to be approved by the NWC, and taken to NEC for approval before payment is made. Why they returned the money, I don’t know. I don’t know if it was a bribe.
“The establishment manual of the PDP pegged the approval limit of the National Chairman at N10 million. But why should he approve something above his limit?”
Also speaking, an NEC member who served in the Uche Secondus-led NWC said the matter had not come before NEC.
Speaking with The PUNCH in confidence, he said, “It has not come to NEC. Yes, as an individual, as a chairman, he can only approve N10m. But he can go above that provided such an amount is discussed and approved by the NWC.
“Allowances are made available when there is money. The issue they have not cleared is whether the issue was discussed. If it was not discussed, then there will be genuine calls for probe,” he stressed.
Albeit, Tsauri maintained that there’s nothing wrong in approving housing allowances for NWC members, the former PDP National Secretary, however, noted that such must have the approval of the working committee.
He stated, “This is only becoming an issue because there is a crisis in the party. I was the only National Secretary who spent four years in office so I think I know much of these things. I am talking to you, as a person who is experienced and knows the constitution of the PDP.
“What the chairman did is normally done by the financial secretary. If there is money available, what the party does is that the NWC will instruct the financial secretary to make a budget of what is to be given to NWC members. They don’t have salaries; they only go with these legitimate allowances.
“If people are complaining that the money is too much, that is a different thing. But for housing allowance, it is legitimate. There has to be a budget and the budget has to be approved by the NWC, and taken to NEC for approval before payment is made. Why they returned the money, I don’t know. I don’t know if it was a bribe.
“The establishment manual of the PDP pegged the approval limit of the National Chairman at N10 million. But why should he approve something above his limit?”
Also speaking, an NEC member who served in the Uche Secondus-led NWC said the matter had not come before NEC.
Speaking with The PUNCH in confidence, he said, “It has not come to NEC. Yes, as an individual, as a chairman, he can only approve N10m. But he can go above that provided such an amount is discussed and approved by the NWC.
“Allowances are made available when there is money. The issue they have not cleared is whether the issue was discussed. If it was not discussed, then there will be genuine calls for probe,” he stressed.
