The Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike has increased the number of appointed Special Assistants (SAs) on Political Units in the state from 28,000 to 50,000.
This development was disclosed in a statement on Thursday endorsed by the Governor’s media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
“Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has reviewed the appointment of Special Assistants on Political Units from 28,000 (Twenty Eight Thousand) to 50,000 (Fifty Thousand),” he said.
On Wednesday, Governor Wike appointed 28,000 political aides for various political units in Rivers, ahead of the 2023 elections.
The appointees included 14,000 Special Advisers, as well as 319 Ward Liaison Officers and 40 Local Government Area Liaison Officers.
The governor’s media aide had explained that the appointees will play a pivotal role in the administration.
I’ll increase the number to 100,000, Wike declares
Meanwhile, Governor Wike has declared that he will increase the number of his special assistants to 100,000 from the 50,000.
While defending the move during a media parley on Friday, Wike said it was part of his government’s promise to alleviate poverty and empower the youth.
“We met this morning and we are going to increase it to a hundred thousand. They are all Rivers people,” he said about the number of appointees.
“Is it not the duty of the government to reduce poverty? Is it not the duty of the government to empower its people?
“What are the people saying at the polling booths; are they happy with our government? You go and find out so we can make adjustments before we leave.”
When asked if it is a burden on his administration, the Rivers governor said that such would not be the first time he had towed that line.