The governor says the appointments are aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery across the state.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointment of one commissioner, three special advisers and 1,000 political aides as part of efforts to strengthen governance and improve service delivery across the state.

The appointments comprise 90 Senior Special Advisers (SSAs) and 910 Special Assistants (SAs), with the governor directing that they take immediate effect.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba from Akoko North-West Local Government Area has been nominated as Commissioner for Special Duties.

Her name has been forwarded to the Ondo State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

Governor Aiyedatiwa also approved the appointment of three Special Advisers.

They are Hon. Abimbola Fajolu from Ileoluji-Okeigbo Local Government Area, Special Adviser on Environment; Chief Ade Adeniyi from Ondo West Local Government Area, Special Adviser on Rural and Community Development; and Mr Muyiwa Ogunyemi from Akoko North-East Local Government Area, Special Adviser on Transport.

The 90 Senior Special Advisers will oversee various areas of government and public engagement, including women mobilisation, forestry, community engagement, student affairs, volunteer services, oil and gas, youth empowerment, public engagement, scholarships and grassroots mobilisation.

Among those appointed as SSAs are Erelu Toyin Ogungbure, SSA on Women Mobilisation (South); Bidemi Obayangbon, SSA on Forestry; Gboluge Olufunmi Alex, SSA on Community Engagement (South); Hon. Akin Adeniyi, SSA on Community Engagement (Central); and Obayan Theophilus Ayodeji, SSA on Community Engagement (North).

Others include Kelvin Solomon, SSA on Students Affairs; Adeolu Iwakun, SSA on Volunteer Services; Samson Job Bazuaye, SSA on Oil and Gas; Fade Ojamomi, Esq., SSA on Youth Empowerment and Job Creation; and Sam Adepoju, SSA on Public Engagement.

Also appointed are Alhaji Samad Orijeminiyi, SSA on Scholarship; Mr Victor Omodara, SSA on Grassroots Mobilisation; Abayomi Adefolalu, SSA on Photography; and Alhaji Abdukadiri Adenoyi, Prince Nzuoma Egbulefu and Alhaji Garba Goni as SSAs on Non-Indigenes.

The state government said the full list of the 90 Senior Special Advisers and 910 Special Assistants would be released later.

The appointments take immediate effect.

The governor said the latest appointments were intended to strengthen the machinery of government and ensure that his administration remains responsive to the needs of people across Ondo State.