Oyebanji asks Ekiti Assembly to confirm three commissioners, 10 advisers
- Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji has written to the House of Assembly seeking approval for three returning commissioners.
- He also wants the lawmakers to approve 10 Special Advisers to help run the state day to day.
- The request comes about 10 days after he was sworn in for a second term.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has asked the State House of Assembly to screen and confirm three commissioners who served in his first term, and to approve 10 Special Advisers.
The request was contained in a letter to the Speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye, according to a Tuesday statement by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode. The governor's office said the letter was dated Monday; one account put the date at October 27, 2026.
The three nominees are Dayo Apata (SAN) for Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Akintunde Oyebode for Finance, and Dr Oyebanji Filani for Health and Human Services.
The request comes about 10 days after Oyebanji was sworn in for a second term on October 16. Last week, he approved appointments in the power, road infrastructure and transportation sectors.
Why it matters
For ordinary Ekiti residents, the finance and health portfolios are the ones to watch. The finance commissioner helps decide how the state budgets and spends its money, including salaries, roads and school projects. The health commissioner oversees hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
The Attorney General's office is a constitutional requirement, and it handles the state's court cases and legal advice.
According to the governor's spokesperson, the early appointments are meant to ensure continuity in critical sectors and a quick take-off for the new administration. The statement said the finance and health portfolios were considered crucial "particularly in view of prevailing developments in the country."
The governor's office did not name the 10 Special Advisers or say which areas they will cover. Special advisers typically support the governor on policy and day-to-day administration.
What happens next
The ball is now with the Ekiti State House of Assembly, which must screen and confirm the three commissioner-nominees before they can take office. The lawmakers are also expected to consider the request for the 10 advisers.
Until the Assembly acts, the state's finance, health and justice ministries will be without substantive commissioners, which could slow decision-making on spending and services.
