12 Governors Hire 4,835 Aides Amid Rising Debts

Despite persistent calls to reduce the cost of governance and curtail excessive borrowing due to rising debt, 12 state governors have appointed a total of 4,385 aides since assuming office in 2023.

This wave of appointments, which includes Special Assistants (SAs), Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Technical Assistants (TAs), and others, has sparked widespread concern, particularly given the rising debt profiles of several states.

The appointments range from just under 50 aides in some states to as many as 1,192 in others.

Governors in states such as Taraba, Ekiti, Niger, Enugu, Adamawa, Kano, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Borno, Yobe, and Kogi have significantly expanded their rosters of aides, drawing criticism amidst financial challenges.

For instance, Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo appointed 170 aides in 2023 and later added 1,192 new aides in August 2024. Similarly, Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas appointed a staggering 1,075 aides in just two days in July 2024.

However, the rapid increase in appointments coincides with alarming rises in state debt.

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According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), many of these states saw significant increases in their domestic and external debts within the first six months of the new administrations.

For example, Niger State’s domestic debt grew from ₦121.95 billion to ₦139.80 billion between June and December 2023, while Plateau State’s debt surged to ₦173.93 billion during the same period.

External debt also spiked, with Cross River State recording the highest increase from $153.17 million to $211.13 million in six months. Similar trends were seen in states like Ekiti, Kano, and Adamawa, further exacerbating concerns about financial management.

Despite the growing debt burden and public outcry, the wave of appointments shows no signs of slowing, raising questions about the future financial stability of these states.