The Caretaker Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Chijioke Ihunwo, on Wednesday, announced the appointment of 100 Special Assistants.
Ihunwo said 100 special assistants would help him carry out key developmental initiatives he has for the people of Obio/Akpor.
He added on his X account, on Wednesday, that the 100 special assistants would also work to ensure the development agenda of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were carried out.
“As the Caretaker Chairman of Obio-Akpor local government area of Rivers State, I have approved the appointment of one hundred Special Assistants.
“While congratulating the appointees, I charged them to work effectively and key into my developmental agenda, and in line with the vision of Governor Siminalayi Fubara,” Ihunwo’s post on X partly read.
Among the 100 special assistants are, Friday Milla Wogwu, Andy Amadi, Kenneth Chika Owhonda, Clement Ifelen Nwaru, Augusta Dafugbo Jaja, Bariasa Juliet Doba, Chigozie Emmanuel Esinuelo, Stella Nkechi Worlu.
Also included are Ogbonna Ezinne Stella, Charity O. Amadi, Ejekwu Theresa Nkiruka, Ijeoma Wosu and others.
The caretaker chairman did not disclose the office ascribed to the appointed special assistants.
Nigerians on X, in reaction, described the appointment as an unnecessary move that has no economic advantage to the local council.
An X user, Glorious (@edoocatherine) wrote, “Please Sir, what would this one hundred SA be doing in Obia Akpor LGA? I think you are looking critically to the needs of the people. What’s the value of this one hundred SA to the lives of your people? Please you can do better.”
Ben Samuel (@flourish007)) sees the appointment as “a joke taken too far? Otherwise, I would like you to define their job responsibilities or if they would be working free of charge?? Who are these people for God’s sake?”
For Julius Adegunna (@adegunna_julius), “This is wasteful. How many wards and towns do you have in your local government?”
Felo Anifel (@anifel20) said “With all due respect sir, this is absolutely not necessary to have 100 SA. if you have hired new or retained staff in the LGA, their impact would be felt by a wider range of people in the state, by extension the government.”
Segun (@_omoagba Chibuike) asked the caretaker chairman to “hire another 500 special assistants so your local government can improve. Don’t bother about building more primary schools closer to your constituents.”
He added, “Forget about better primary health centres, who needs it when there are SAs. Forget about pipe borne water when your people can go fetch water from oil polluted wells. You are doing well and have our support.”
Other netizens also called the attention of Ihunwo to Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling local government funds and autonomy.
Kakanfo (@Kakanfo_) said, “Hope you no say you no go get allocation as you no be elected LG chairman? Stop playing my guy. FG will deal with you.”
TAS (@DipoSpeak) added, “You are null and void going by the decision of the Supreme Court this morning , any further actions conducted by you and other caretaker committee members are invalid including the just announced so called 100 special assistants.”
Anthony Wencelaus (@tonyceslaus) wrote, “Uncle you are not even duly elected yet you are appointing 100 SA.”
Darlington (@Darling88663948) said, ” You and your uncountable funny assistants have lost your positions. You can reappoint them after you are duly elected.”
Zooodeee (@zoooodee) screamed, “One hundred Special assistants? What happened to the entire staff of the Local government under your stewardship? Why so many special assistants? Are there not more pressing issues requiring funds in Obio/Akpor instead of being used for these salaries?”
