ONE GOVERNOR, 4,800 SPECIAL ASSISTANTS

Governor Lucky Okpebholo of Edo State recently appointed 4,800 special assistants as part of his efforts to increase the influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in his administration. This decision has sparked debate about the role of democracy and the effectiveness of such measures in governance. Okpebholo justified the appointments by stating that since there is only one party in Edo State, the government must reach the grassroots level to ensure that policies benefit the entire population.

While Okpebholo's appointment may not be legally problematic, it raises several concerns regarding public interest. The cost of appointing these political jobbers has not been accounted for in the Edo State budget for 2026. This raises the question of whether the state is wasting scarce resources by spending on such appointments when many retired workers are still owed their pensions and gratuities.

Additionally, there are concerns about the offices these special assistants are expected to report to and where the Edo State House of Assembly stands on the matter. Edo State relies primarily on federal allocations for its finances, and more resources could be allocated to critical areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

Rather than using taxpayer money to pay salaries and allowances for these special assistants, the money could be better used to address pressing socio-economic challenges. Okpebholo's decision to reward supporters and stakeholders through these appointments is questioned given the current socio-economic problems in the state. Other governors in Nigeria have also been accused of similar partisan appointments, with some appointing more than 25 times the number of special assistants than the size of the administration under Okpebholo's predecessor.

This practice appears to be common in many states, and it raises concerns about the purpose and impact of such appointments. Okpebholo's insistence that the party is his and that governance should be a bottom-up approach confirms the partisan nature of the appointments. Public office is a trust held by governors on behalf of all residents, not a way to reward party loyalists.

When political patronage is portrayed as grassroots governance, it ultimately burdens taxpayers with the cost of extravagant schemes. The Edo State House of Assembly should investigate this decision given the scale of public funds involved. At a national level, there is a need for a sober conversation about placing reasonable limits on political appointments across all 36 states in Nigeria to prevent governors from equating their commitment to good governance with the size of their entourage.

Until this issue is addressed, taxpayers will continue to subsidize large administrations while critical public services are neglected.