Edo Governor approves 4,800 Special Assistants for 192 wards

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the appointment of 4,800 special assistants as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots governance and expand the reach of his administration across the state.

Okpebholo announced the approval on Monday during a meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the 18 local government areas at the Government House in Benin City.

The governor said the initiative was designed to deepen government presence at the ward level and ensure that government programmes, opportunities and development reach communities across the state.

“So we are taking the governance to the grassroots so that whatever is from the top will also go down to the bottom,” Okpebholo said.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and thanked party members for their support, particularly during the election that brought his administration to power.

“I want to say good morning to everybody and tell you that I love you all. I want to let you know that the party is our party. We don’t have any other party than APC,” he said.

“Approving 4,800 SAs is not an issue at all because we all work for this victory. The victory does not belong to Okpebholo alone,” the governor added.

Speaking at the meeting, Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe, explained that the governor approved 25 special assistant positions for each of the state’s 192 wards, bringing the total to 4,800 positions.

Tenebe said the meeting was organised to explain the criteria and guidelines for selecting those who would benefit from the appointments.

“In his magnanimity, the governor has decided to approve 25 SAs in each of the wards in 192 wards across the state. And that is the reason why we decided to invite ward chairmen and members to this meeting so we can tell you the criteria to select these people that will benefit from this approval,” Tenebe said.

The APC State Working Committee has also constituted a committee to liaise with the various wards and ensure compliance with the approved guidelines.

The committee is expected to compile the names of qualified nominees and submit them to the party headquarters in Benin City.

Tenebe commended the governor for what he described as efforts to reposition the party in the state, saying the APC had become more active and stable under the present administration.

He also disclosed plans for the party to receive a vehicle to support its activities and acknowledged the state government’s assistance to APC candidates during the last local government elections.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, members of the APC State Working Committee, ward chairmen and other party representatives from across the 18 local government areas.

The approval is expected to strengthen coordination between the state government and the APC structure at the ward and local government levels as the administration expands its grassroots mobilisation and governance strategy.