President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as his new Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), in a move aimed at strengthening the Presidency’s working relationship with the lower chamber.
Olanrewaju-Smart succeeds Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who resigned his appointment to pursue an elective political ambition in his home state.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was announced in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
At 40, Olanrewaju-Smart brings extensive experience in legislative affairs, public policy and executive-legislative engagement to the new assignment.
His career in the House of Representatives began as a Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders during the 7th and 8th Assemblies. He subsequently served as Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief of Staff to the Speaker during the 9th and 10th Assemblies.
He moved to the Presidency in October 2023 as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until his latest appointment.
The Presidency said his background in legislative affairs and policy development would be deployed to deepen coordination between the executive arm, the National Assembly and government ministries, departments and agencies.
Olanrewaju-Smart is an accomplished scholar and public policy specialist. He holds a PhD in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.
He is also an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and a former LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
His professional training includes a diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations, while his policy fellowship at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States focused on artificial intelligence and civic technology.
According to the Presidency, Olanrewaju-Smart has also contributed to policy research underpinning major legislative initiatives, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.
Tinubu, the statement said, expects the new aide to deploy his legislative experience, policy expertise and institutional knowledge to improve relations between the Presidency, the House of Representatives and MDAs.
The appointment comes at a critical period in the life of the administration, with the National Assembly playing a central role in the passage of the administration’s reform agenda, appropriation bills and other major government policies.
With his experience straddling the House and the Presidency, Olanrewaju-Smart is expected to serve as a key link between the executive and lawmakers as the administration pushes its legislative priorities.