Political appointees have been directed to pay five percent of their basic salaries to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) throughout their stay in office.

Just last week, defaulting appointees were reminded of their dues when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, sent a terse letter to all ministers demanding the payment of the dues.

Citing a section of the PDP constitution as his backing, Mr Ahmed instructed federal ministers to act as collectors and to deposit the collected funds into the party's account at Unity Bank.

", all party men and women elected or appointed at the instance of the PDP, including ambassadors and board chairmen at the federal level, are required to contribute five percent of their basic allowances or remuneration to the party. The directive is effective from the day they are appointed," Mr Ahmed said in the memo, exclusively obtained by NEXT.

Download a copy of the letter here.

This letter has allegedly been endorsed by relevant ministers and passed on to all or most heads of parastatals.

Paying their dues

Sources who spoke to NEXT said all political appointees have to pay the levy, whether or not they belong to the PDP. Others conceded that they have been paying the dues and expressed no alarm at PDP's demand.

In some instances, the percentage is taken from the source and the appointee need not make a trip to the bank. It is not clear how many ministers and top-level government officials make these payments, but according to the SGF, the ministers must not only serve as collectors but as petty accountants. The ministers are to forward duplicate copies of all payments made to Mr Ahmed's office.

"Thereafter, you are required to forward a copy of payments made in this regard to my office for information," he instructed, adding that "all monthly contributions subsequently collected should also be treated in the same manner."

The PDP vs the people

Government officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, condemned Mr Ahmed, accusing him of abusing his office to pursue his political affiliations.

"Should the structure and institutions of government be converted into a PDP funding institution?" one source asked.

"This means that only people who will dance to their tunes of 5 percent will be appointed into political office, whether or not they are qualified."

Kayode Ajulo, an Abuja-based attorney, believes that Mr Ahmed should be relieved of his duties for abuse of office. He said that for him to use the instrument of government to "fan the interest of a political party is absurd."

"The office of the SGF is totally different from the person of Yayale Ahmed. The office of the SGF has its own operating manual, and writing memos for political parties is not one of it," said Mr. Ajulo.

Mr. Ajulo said that the party should apologise to Nigerians and return the money they have collected to the coffers of the government. He also called for the resignation or the sack of the SGF within seven days.

"Any sensible and reasonable president would ensure that this is redressed," he said.

Another lawyer and human rights activist, Obo Effanga, believes it is a breach of public office for the SGF, who is a public servant, to use state apparatus to collect contributions and remit them to a private and non-state institution, such as a political party.

Mr. Effanga said the PDP was at liberty to decide how much it wants to levy its members who may be in government, but Mr Ahmed is working for the country, not the party.

"I don't care what responsibility his party gives him, as far as he is the SGF, his responsibility is based on the oath of office and oath of allegiance he took.

"The office he holds demands him to be neutral and do good to all Nigerians. Will the SGF be right to set up a scheme to ensure that staff under him pay and remit zakat and tithes to their respective religious bodies, in fulfilment of their religious obligations, which the constitution allows them? Certainly not, for those are private matters, not state matters. It would be surprising if the president was unaware of this," he said.

Drumming up funds

National publicity secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, said though paying the dues was not wrong, it should have been done by the party itself.

"It is a problem. I see the SGF just as a minister and will it be right for a minister to ask all his board members to contribute their dues? It should have been the party doing that, not the SGF."

While it is not certain that appointees who do not belong to the PDP are required to pay the levy, an official who claims he does not belong to any political party said he received the memo nonetheless.

The source accused the PDP of desperately trying to raise funds for the 2011 elections.

"Are they becoming this desperate or is the SGF's office now an extension of Wadata house?" he asked.

All of our efforts to contact Mr. Ahmed for his response to our findings were not successful, that is until just a few minutes before we went to press. We then asked him why he wrote and sent the Memo. He said he considers himself a politician and since the party constitution says members should pay 5%, he merely wrote to remind them of their obligation. "If the ANPP asked me to remind its appointees, I will do that for them," he said.

Mr Ahmed however said that all payments will be done through the party.

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5611962-147/government_officials_pay_tithes_to_pdp.csp

After collecting this 5%, will this evil party have the moral standing to demand good performance from the political appointees? It's unfortunate that every Tom, Dick and Harry that is appointed by the govt of the Federal Republic of Nigeria pays dues to PDP, whether a member or not. That is why Nigeria under the grip of these evil men and women in PDP may not see the light of the day soonest. I pray God will awaken the consciousness in us to confront these evil people headlong. Until we match force with force, these people will continue to hold us to ransome.

I hail all 'em tithers. Someday real politicians who know the meaning of the word "SERVICE" will be in office, So unfortunate the coming of that day is obscure

what do u expect from a PDP govt, asides, they spent money to get those ovt appointees where they are, why are we complaning,

A catch-22 in progress, GBAM !!!

Dat means they'll steal 10% from tax payers money to replace wat they paid to party, PDP, there several ways to generate fund.

pdp = thieves
real tithes

[size=16pt]PDP . . . SHARE THE MONEY!![/size]

Like the first lawyer said, what does the office of the SGF have to do with sending out PDP memos??

UNBELIEVABLE and the party will still be in power come 2011

This can only happen in a Jonathan led govt, cos he is so weak and cannot stand his grounds hence PDP will prevail with their evil activities. IBB is not an option, but Jonathan is not d ideal man for that post. People should stop comparing Jonathan to previous presidents cos you will never judge him correctly, lets judge him with what is obtainable in the office.

That is the official version. How about what they share unofficially?

080Nigeria:

That is the official version. How about what they share unofficially?

he who pays the piper detects the tune

WHAT DO U EXPECT FROM BUNCH OF HOODLUMS.


GOD WILL DEFINITELY VISIT THEM SOON!!!!!!

WITH REAL ANGER.

Well, since MONEY is the political/social ideology of their party, they are stupid for not paying their Tithe!!?

They should pay up with interest! or lose out at the next Position-Sharing jamboree.

Kilode?!:

Well, since MONEY is the political/social ideology of their party, they are silly for not paying their Tithe!!?

They should pay up with interest! or lose out at the next Position-Sharing jamboree.

Its not even funny cos Pdp and their cronies have made life very miserable for the poor. Its attitude has been contemptuous. Its policies and programs have been cruel and unfair to citizens of Nigeria. They must be held accountable 2010 for increasing infant mortality among the poor, in the Northern region infant babies are dying at the same rate as during Biafra war, In the Southern regions, babies are being cast away as witches because their parents can’t afford to feed them; there are now 98 million people in poverty, 60% of our population, mostly Youths, women and children. Transparency international rated Nigeria 2009 as one of the most corrupt countries in the world topping only Bangladesh, Iraq and Pakistan. Jesus said that we should not be judged by the bark we wear but by the fruit that we bear. Jesus said that we must measure greatness by how we treat the least of these.

PDP! People Deceive People!
PDP!! Collect my power!!
PDP!! My Power by Power!!!

If u like vote if u like no vote dem go still dey win! Until we wake up from our stu-p-id cowardly slumber and decide that enuf is enuf!

But until den, they will continue to treat us as mugus!

Every body pls shut up and stop complaining! Cowards! _{including me!}

and after collecting 5% the members will collect 500% from the state accounts.

no deal

And so this ends the poverty in d streets and corners across the nation