A fresh political storm is brewing in Bayelsa State following the announcement by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party of a new salary structure that increases the wages of elected party officials by over 3,000 per cent.
According to a communique dated May 8, the PDP Caretaker Committee in Bayelsa, led by George Turnah, approved the wage hike, pushing the party’s total monthly salary bill to over ₦306 million.
The communique, co-signed by Turnah and secretary Derri Wright, directed that the new pay structure be communicated to Governor Douye Diri for implementation.
Under the revised package, local government party chairpersons will now earn ₦621,000 monthly—up from ₦20,000—equivalent to what a special adviser earns in the state government.
Ward chairpersons’ salaries will rise from ₦5,000 to ₦336,000, while members of the State Working Committee are to earn ₦1,048,500 monthly, a pay grade likened to state cabinet commissioners.
The new salary structure is scheduled to take effect from May 31, 2025.
However, the move has triggered intense criticism and legal objections. Governor Diri, who is the recognised leader of the PDP in Bayelsa, has distanced himself from the decision.
His spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, dismissed the announcement as “trash,” insisting that there is no faction in the Bayelsa PDP and that Turnah is under a valid court order restraining him from functioning as a party member.
“The court directed him (Turnah) to stop parading himself as a member of the PDP until the matter is resolved. But the man continues to disregard the order,” Alabrah said.
Turnah, a former aide to Governor Diri, has since fallen out with the governor and is now associated with the pro-Wike political movement, “New Associates,” which supports President Bola Tinubu.
Questions have also arisen over the legality and funding of the proposed salary hike.
A senior PDP source, speaking anonymously, said the party executives typically receive stipends funded by member dues—not state allocations.
“If he (Turnah) is implementing this, it must mean there’s substantial internal revenue from dues. Otherwise, this raises serious questions,” the source said.
Efforts to reach Turnah and the PDP’s national spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The development has further deepened tensions within the Bayelsa PDP ahead of the 2025 political calendar and raises broader concerns over financial accountability within party structures.
