By Gloria Ikibah
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Dr Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as the new Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), reinforcing efforts to deepen coordination between the Presidency and the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
The appointment, announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, follows the resignation of Hon. Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who stepped down to pursue an elective political office in his home state.
Olanrewaju-Smart brings to the role a blend of academic excellence and extensive legislative experience. He holds a doctorate in Educational Management from Lead City University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University and is an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a LEAPS Fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), holds 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, where he focused on Artificial Intelligence and Civic Technology.
His career within the National Assembly spans more than a decade. He served as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders of the House of Representatives during the 7th and 8th Assemblies before rising through the ranks to become Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff and later Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 9th and 10th Assemblies.
In October 2023, he joined the Presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, a position he held until his latest appointment.
Beyond his administrative responsibilities, Olanrewaju-Smart has contributed to the development of key public policies and legislation, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act.
Announcing the appointment in a statement on Sunday, the Presidency expressed confidence in his ability to strengthen collaboration between the Executive and the House of Representatives.
President Tinubu said, “Olanrewaju-Smart will use his experience, intellect, and commitment to strengthening legislative coordination and relations between the Presidency, MDAs and the House of Representatives.”
The President also directed that the appointment takes immediate effect, signalling the administration’s determination to sustain effective engagement with the National Assembly in advancing its legislative agenda.
