Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has unveiled 1,200 new political assistants who will serve as what he described as “change agents” across the state.
The announcement was made on Friday, September 12, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade.
Each of the state’s 236 wards will have five representatives.
According to the governor, the new aides are expected to strengthen civic engagement and make governance more inclusive by connecting the people directly with government policies and programmes.
Explaining the rationale behind the appointments, Akinmade said, “The assistants — five from each of the 236 wards in Ogun State — will ensure greater local participation in governance, effectively bridging the gap between the grassroots and the state government.
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“The newly appointed political assistants are to support the delivery of democratic dividends, articulate the needs of their respective wards, and communicate these needs to the state government.
“They are also expected to provide accurate feedback from the government to the wards and vice versa.”
He added that the initiative was in line with the governor’s campaign pledge to give every ward a voice in his administration’s development agenda.
Abiodun, who has repeatedly emphasised inclusivity and citizen participation since he assumed office in 2019, was said to view the move as a strategic step towards building stronger democratic governance across the state.
The government urged the new appointees to take their roles seriously and contribute meaningfully to the growth of their wards, their local governments, and Ogun State as a whole.