Ondo Appoints 1,000 Aides: Can the State Justify the Cost?

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has appointed 90 Senior Special Assistants, 910 Special Assistants, one commissioner and three special advisers. The government says the appointments will strengthen governance, improve service delivery and support grassroots engagement across the state’s 203 wards. We examined the roles, which cover youth empowerment, scholarships, forestry, oil and gas, public engagement, volunteer services and community development. Many of these responsibilities already fall under ministries, departments and agencies, raising questions about how the new aides will add value and how their work will be measured. The government has not disclosed the full cost of the appointments. However, estimates place the annual bill at more than ₦3.7 billion, while comparisons with remuneration benchmarks suggest it could be higher. That amount is close to the state’s estimated ₦3.94 billion requirement for recruiting, training and supporting 8,083 basic education teachers. Ondo residents deserve transparency on each appointee’s duties, pay and expected results. If the appointments are funded by taxpayers, they should lead to visible improvements in jobs, schools, healthcare, security and local communities.

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