Three out of the 23 caretaker chairpersons appointed by Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers State Governor, have appointed more than 500 aides in less than a month in office, FIJ has gathered.

Chijioke Ihunwo, the caretaker chairman of the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state, announced his 100-man team of special assistants on Wednesday. Ihunwo listed the names of these appointees on his X page but did not specify their portfolios.

“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 charge them to work effectively and key into my developmental agenda, in line with the vision of Governor Siminalayi Fubara,” he wrote.

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The appointments immediately generated backlash from Nigerians, who deemed them wasteful and unnecessary.

But barely 24 hours after Ihunwo’s announcement, Evans Bipi, the caretaker chairman of the Ogu/Bolu Local Government Area, announced the appointment of 119 new aides, including special assistants, media aides and special advisers. The swearing-in ceremony for the 119 appointees was held at the Ogu Magistrate Court on Friday.

The Premium Times Newspaper had earlier reported how Darlington Orji, the caretaker chairman of the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, appointed about 300 special assistants, senior special assistants and executive assistants to help him manage the LGA in June.

According to the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, a special adviser to a local government chairperson earns about N2.9 million annually.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled in support of the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria. This ruling could render caretaker chairpersons unconstitutional. It is currently uncertain how many other caretaker chairpersons have made similar appointments in the state.