Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will be spending at least N500 million every month from the state treasury to maintain the over 1,900 political aides he appointed in just 33 days, SaharaReporters can report.
The figure covers only basic salaries and does not include the billions of naira the state will spend on official vehicles, fuel and allowances for the aides in the coming months.
This is happening at a time when lecturers in all three state-owned universities have abandoned classrooms over unpaid salaries and non-implementation of the 2025 FG/ASUU agreement.
Lecturers from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED), and Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OAUSTECH), have been on total, comprehensive and indefinite strike since July and August 2026.
SaharaReporters’ investigation, based on official press releases signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, shows that the governor, who sacked all his aides on March 30, 2026, has now appointed almost double that number.
On August 20, 2026, the governor approved the appointment of Erelu Taibat Yemi Oloruntoba as Commissioner for Special Duties, three Special Advisers – Hon. Abimbola Fajolu (Environment), Chief Ade Adeniyi (Rural and Community Development) and Mr. Muyiwa Ogunyemi (Transport) and 1,000 political aides comprising 90 Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and 910 Special Assistants (SAs).
Among the 90 SSAs are Erelu Toyin Ogungbure (SSA Women Mobilisation, South), Bidemi Obayangbon (SSA Forestry), Gboluge Olufunmi Alex (SSA Community Engagement, South), Akin Adeniyi (SSA Community Engagement, Central) and Obayan Theophilus Ayodeji (SSA Community Engagement, North).
In another statement by Adeniyan on September 11, 2026, the governor appointed Femi Fadairo as Special Adviser on Special Duties and Strategy, replacing Hon. Gani Mohammed who was redeployed as Special Adviser on Mines and Mineral Resources.
On September 14, 2026, Aiyedatiwa appointed Ogundeji Iroju, former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly as Special Adviser on Legislative Matters and approved another batch of 537 new aides.
They include Olaoluwa Adesanya (SSA Inter-Party Affairs), Seyi Lawrence Aletile (SSA Entertainment and Tourism), Adekunle Orisamoluwa (SSA Support Groups), Hon. Favour Semilore Tomomewo (SSA Public Health) and Temilola Odetola (SA CSOs), plus 532 other aides.
On September 22, 2026, the governor released another batch of 374 SSAs and SAs.
He also appointed chairmen of boards, including Oyinkansola Aroloye as Chairman of the Ondo State Micro Credit Agency.
The list obtained by SaharaReporters includes Olanisimi Oladele Ojo, Owolabi Tosin Pelumi, Oloyede Akinsipe, Adewale Adebayo Tosin, Akinkugbe Femisayo Mercy, Esther Udoh, Omomagbe Oluwaseunfunmi, Akinbobola Sunday, Ifedayo Temidayo, Adegoke Folajole, Valentine Fadayomi, Olawoye Udoh Florence, Akinkugbe Femi Frank, Hakeem Abayomi Oshiodi and Gbenga Oyedele, among others.
“The Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the appointment of Mrs. Oyinkansola Aroloye as the Chairman of the Ondo State Micro Credit Agency.
“The Governor also approved the appointments of the second batch of Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs). The third batch of the SSAs and SAs will be announced later,” Adeniyan, the governor’s spokesperson, had said in a statement.
In total, within 33 days, the governor appointed 6 Special Advisers, 226 Senior Special Assistants and 1,685 Special Assistants, making a total of 1,917 appointees.
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) only covers the Governor, Deputy Governor, Commissioners, Special Advisers, House Members, Auditor-General and chairmen of statutory commissions.
Salaries of SSAs and SAs are at the discretion of the Governor and are paid from security vote and overhead.
According to RMAFC, a Special Adviser earns an average of N450,000 monthly as basic salary, excluding accommodation (100% of basic), furniture (300% of basic once in 4 years), leave allowance, estacode, medicals, severance gratuity of 300% and other allowances. With allowances, the real cost triples.
However, reliable sources told SaharaReporters that an average Senior Special Assistant in Ondo State earns N350,000 monthly while a Special Assistant earns N250,000.
Using these rates, the six Special Advisers at N450,000 each will cost N2,700,000 monthly, 226 SSAs at N350,000 each will cost N79,100,000 monthly and 1,685 SAs at N250,000 each will cost N421,250,000 monthly
This brings the total monthly salary alone to N503,050,000 and N6.03 billion per year.
If allowances are provided, such as accommodation, furniture and severance, are added, the state may be spending over N10 billion annually on political aides alone.
SaharaReporters gathered that all six Special Advisers and at least 90 SSAs appointed are entitled to official cars.
At conservative market prices in Nigeria, a Toyota Prado or Lexus SUV for an Adviser costs N45 million, which is N270 million for six, while a Toyota Corolla or Camry for an SSA costs N25 million, which is N2.25 billion for 90.
The one-off vehicle cost is N2.52 billion with monthly fuelling, maintenance at N300,000 per vehicle for 96 vehicles amounting to N28.8 million monthly.
When added together, the monthly recurrent expenditure, including salary and car maintenance is N531,850,000, yearly recurrent is N6,382,200,000 and plus one-off car purchase of N2.52 billion, the first year total will be N8.9 billion.
Meanwhile, lecturers in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) led by Comrade Bolu Oshodi have been on total, comprehensive and indefinite strike since July 10 over non-payment of May and June 2026 salaries.
Lecturers in the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED) led by Comrades Abraham Oladebeye and Adeniran Akinola have been on indefinite strike since August 25 over non-payment of arrears from January 1, 2026 and failure to implement the 2025 FG/ASUU agreement.
The unions are asking for less than N600 million to resume, but government is committing N503 million monthly to aides.
A top source in Government House told SaharaReporters that the appointments are for 2027 mobilisation, with an average of nine aides per ward in the 203 wards of the state.