Ondo Governor Aiyedatiwa Appoints 1,000 Aides Amid Criticism

In August, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State approved the appointment of 1,000 aides, which includes 90 Senior Special Assistants and 910 Special Assistants, aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery across the state. The appointed aides will serve in various portfolios such as Women Mobilisation, Forestry, Community Engagement, Students Affairs, Volunteer Services, Oil and Gas, Youth Empowerment and Job Creation, Public Engagement, Scholarship, Grassroots Mobilisation, and Non-Indigenes.

This move has sparked criticism, particularly regarding its timing just before an election year and the necessity of such a large number of aides. Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of these appointments, especially given that the Ondo State Head of Service, Mr. Bayo Philip, reported in 2025 that the state government had employed about 2,830 civil servants in key sectors.

Critics argue that this decision reflects a misplacement of priorities and could lead to wasteful spending of state resources.