Workers Hold PDP Chairman, Others Hostage Over Salaries

THERE was tension in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital as workers at the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat, yesterday held the state party chairman, Chief Yunana K. Iliya and other members of the state working committee hostage for several hours following their inability to pay their salaries and other entitlements for several months.

When our The Guardian visited the secretariat located along Jos road in Lafia, one of the aggrieved workers who gave his name as Adamu, said the decision was taken to press home their demand for the payment of their three months’ salaries.

According to him, the workers were pushed to the wall; hence they had no option than to react violently with a view to fighting for their right. Adamu said despite the revenue generated by the party in the build-up to the general elections, the party leadership made no effort to pay them their entitlements.

“None of them will move out of this secretariat until they settle our three months entitlements,” he said. Those also held hostage included PDP member House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammad Okpede, representing Doma North, Hon. Peter Mbucho representing Akwanga North and Hon.Muhammed Muluku, representing Nasarawa Eggon East.

It took the intervention of the police to calm the situation after persuading the angry workers to release their hostages for negotiation. The Guardian observed that after the intervention of the security personnel, the chairman, other executive members of the party and some stakeholders of the party held a close door meeting with the protesting workers.

When contacted, the state chairman denied knowledge of any protest by the office workers, insisting that nobody was on the payroll of the party. According to him those making noise are mere party supporters who normally hang in the secretariat to solicit assistance. “This is party office whereby party supporters come around and we do help them with money”, he said.