Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters – House of Representatives, a strategic move aimed at strengthening legislative coordination and relations between the Presidency and the Green Chamber. The appointment, announced on Sunday, July 26, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, takes immediate effect. Olanrewaju-Smart, 40, replaces Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who resigned from the position to contest for an elective post in his home state.
Olanrewaju-Smart is an accomplished scholar and public policy expert with an impressive academic pedigree. He holds a PhD in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he was an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and holds a professional diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations. He previously served as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States, focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Civic Technology.
The new presidential adviser brings extensive legislative and administrative experience to his new role. His career in the National Assembly spanned several years, from Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies, to Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and ultimately Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th and 10th Assemblies. In October 2023, Olanrewaju-Smart joined the Presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until this new appointment.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Olanrewaju-Smart will deploy his experience, intellect, and commitment to strengthening legislative coordination and relations between the Presidency, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives. His public policy research portfolio includes work on several landmark legislations, such as the Interest-Free Student Loan Act, among others.
The appointment of a Harvard-trained policy expert to serve as the President's liaison to the House of Representatives underscores the administration's focus on strengthening executive-legislative relations as it prepares for the 2027 general elections. Olanrewaju-Smart's deep understanding of the legislature's inner workings, combined with his academic credentials and intergovernmental experience, positions him as a key player in advancing the administration's legislative agenda. As Nigeria approaches the 2027 election cycle, the role of the Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters becomes increasingly critical in ensuring the smooth passage of priority bills and maintaining harmony between the executive and legislative branches.
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