Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has approved the appointment of 101 Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants, a move that has triggered widespread criticism from Nigerians questioning the size and cost of the state's governance structure.
The appointments, announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, took immediate effect. They comprise seven Special Advisers, six Senior Special Assistants and 88 Special Assistants, tasked with responsibilities spanning economic development, policy affairs, grassroots coordination, creative industry development, environmental protection, youth engagement, women mobilisation, and technology and innovation.
Social Media Backlash Over Number of Aides
On social media, many Nigerians expressed disbelief at the large number of advisers. One user wrote, "Cost of governance must be reduced in order to maintain a corruption-free institution. For God's sake, what is the impact of appointing these SAs when you can use the same resources to channel into human capital development. Misplaced priority."
Another commenter asked, "Wtf is 101 bunch of advisers, dude you don't need that. What exactly are they advising you about? Wasting taxpayers' money!" A third added, "If you need 101 special advisers as a governor, then it is safe to say you don't know your job."
Nollywood Actresses Among New Appointees
Among the appointees are Nollywood actress Rachael Okonkwo, named Senior Special Assistant on Film and Creative Industry Development, and veteran actress Eucharia Anunobi, appointed Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation for Enugu-North Zone. Their appointments have drawn particular attention given the ongoing debate about the necessity of such roles.
The criticism comes amid wider public conversations in Nigeria about the size and cost of government appointments. The Enugu State Government, however, stated that the newly appointed aides have specific responsibilities aimed at supporting different areas of governance.
Previous Appointments and Ongoing Debate
This latest batch follows an earlier approval of 23 new advisers and assistants by Governor Mbah in August 2026. The cumulative effect has intensified scrutiny of the state's administrative expenses.
The debate over the appointments highlights a broader national concern about the efficiency of government spending and the balance between political appointments and investment in human capital development.
