Tinubu names Olarewaju-Smart as Adviser on House of Reps Issues

President Bola Tinubu has named Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, focusing on the House of Representatives.

This announcement came in a statement from presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olanrewaju-Smart takes over from Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who resigned to run for an elective office in his home state.

The statement described Olanrewaju-Smart as a scholar and a public policy expert. He has a PhD in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.

“He is an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

“He also has a professional diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations and was a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States.

His time in the legislature includes working as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House during the 7th and 8th Assemblies.

“He later served as Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff to the Speaker during the 9th and 10th Assemblies,” the statement added.

Onanuga also shared that Olanrewaju-Smart joined the presidency in October 2023 as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Inter-governmental Affairs.

He mentioned that Olanrewaju-Smart's work in public policy research helped shape important laws, like the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.

Onanuga quoted Tinubu as saying he believes Olanrewaju-Smart will improve coordination and relationships between the presidency, ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives.

According to the statement, this appointment takes effect immediately.