President Bola Tinubu has appointed Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), a move aimed at strengthening legislative coordination between the presidency and the lower chamber. The appointment, announced on Sunday in Abuja by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, takes immediate effect and replaces Ibrahim Olanrewaju, who stepped down to pursue an elective office in his home state.
Academic and Professional Background
Olanrewaju-Smart brings a distinguished academic and policy background to the role. He holds a PhD in Educational Management from Lead City University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, where he is also an Edward Mason Fellow in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Additionally, he is 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.
His experience extends to the United States, where he served as a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI. Onanuga highlighted these qualifications in the statement, emphasizing Olanrewaju-Smart’s expertise in public policy and legislative processes.
Legislative Career and Previous Roles
Olanrewaju-Smart’s legislative career spans several key positions within the House of Representatives. He began as Research and Media Assistant to the Minority and Majority Leaders during the 7th and 8th Assemblies, later serving as Special Adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Chief of Staff to the Speaker during the 9th and 10th Assemblies. According to Onanuga, his tenure contributed to landmark legislation, including the Interest-Free Student Loan Act, which was informed by his public policy research.
In October 2023, Olanrewaju-Smart joined the presidency as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Inter-governmental Affairs, a role that positioned him to bridge federal and state governance. His new appointment is expected to deepen these linkages with the House of Representatives.
Presidential Confidence and Immediate Effect
President Tinubu expressed confidence that Olanrewaju-Smart would enhance legislative coordination and relations between the presidency, ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and the House of Representatives. In the statement, Onanuga quoted Tinubu as saying, "I am confident that Olanrewaju-Smart will strengthen legislative coordination and relations between the presidency, ministries, departments and agencies and the House of Representatives."
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, underscores the administration's focus on legislative engagement as it advances key policy initiatives. Olanrewaju-Smart’s familiarity with both the executive and legislative branches is expected to facilitate smoother collaboration on pending bills and oversight functions.
