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By Gloria Ikibah

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has welcomed the appointment of Dr. Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart as Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), describing him as the right choice to strengthen relations between the Executive and the Legislature.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker congratulated the new presidential aide and commended President Tinubu for what he described as another demonstration of sound political judgement.

Speaker Abbas said the President had once again shown his confidence in capable hands by appointing Olanrewaju-Smart, who previously served as his Chief of Staff before joining the Presidency in 2023 as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs.

Before working with Abbas, Olanrewaju-Smart was Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is now Chief of Staff to the President.

Congratulating the appointee, the Speaker described the elevation as well deserved, citing his years of dedicated service and extensive knowledge of legislative processes.

He said Olanrewaju-Smart is “the right person for the job”, adding that the appointment was “well-deserved.”

According to the Speaker, the new presidential adviser has consistently demonstrated commitment to duty, professionalism and a deep understanding of parliamentary procedures and democratic governance.

He further described Olanrewaju-Smart as “not only brilliant and a model of integrity but also a hardworking and patriotic young Nigerian.”

Speaker Abbas expressed optimism that the appointment would deepen collaboration between the Presidency and the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives.

He said he was particularly encouraged by Olanrewaju-Smart’s role as the liaison officer between both arms of government, noting that it would further strengthen cooperation and cordial working relations between the Executive and the Legislature.

The Speaker also wished the new adviser success in his assignment and prayed for divine guidance, wisdom and strength as he assumes his new responsibilities.

Olanrewaju-Smart holds a doctorate in Educational Management from Lead City University, Ibadan, 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, a LEAPS Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and a Policy Fellow at Quantum Alliance AI in the United States, where his work focuses on artificial intelligence and civic technology. He also holds a professional diploma in Public Relations from the London School of Public Relations.

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African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Sunday, slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration over its “unprecedented domestic borrowing” despite the significant windfall accruing from high international crude oil prices.

He described the administration’s economic management as contradictory, opaque, and bereft of fiscal discipline.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu,
Atiku noted that the Federal Government has already raised about N5 trillion from the domestic bond market in the first half of 202, “almost 80 per cent of the total amount borrowed during the corresponding period in 2025.”

According to Atiku, such aggressive borrowing would only be understandable if government revenues had collapsed.

“The exact opposite is the case,” he said.

The former Vice President pointed out that while the 2026 Appropriation Act benchmarked crude oil at $64.84 per barrel, the average price of Brent crude, the benchmark for Nigerian oil has remained around $92 per barrel between March 1 and July 14. Nigerian crude typically trades at a premium above Brent, making the government’s earnings even higher.

He said: “This naturally raises two unavoidable questions.

“First, why is a government enjoying such an extraordinary oil windfall borrowing at almost twice last year’s pace as though the nation were in financial distress? Second, where is the money?”

Atiku explained that the difference between the budget benchmark and prevailing oil prices amounts to an additional $27.15 on every barrel of crude sold.

“At an average production of 1.5 million barrels per day, Nigeria earns an estimated $42.7 million in additional revenue daily.

“Over the 135-day period between March 1 and July 14, this translates to approximately $5.76 billion, or about N7.98 trillion.

Nigerians deserve a full accounting of this windfall. Where has the money gone? Why is there no transparent disclosure of the proceeds from excess crude sales? Why is government borrowing heavily when oil revenues are significantly above budget projections?” He asked.

Atiku recalled that previous administrations maintained clear mechanisms for warehousing and reporting excess crude earnings through the Sovereign Wealth Fund and other established fiscal buffers.

Today, Nigerians have been left completely in the dark. A government that cannot explain what it has done with an estimated N7.98 trillion in additional oil receipts has no moral authority to continue plunging the country deeper into debt,” he stated.

The former Vice President further lamented that despite the huge oil windfall and the removal of fuel subsidy, millions of Nigerians continue to face worsening hardship.

He noted that recent United Nations findings indicate that about 80 per cent of Nigerians cannot afford a decent meal each day, while infrastructure continues to deteriorate despite repeated promises that subsidy savings would be invested in roads, healthcare, education, and other critical sectors.

“It is increasingly evident that this administration lacks the competence, discipline, and transparency required to manage the nation’s resources.

“Rather than allowing Nigerians to benefit from favourable global oil prices, it has chosen the path of endless borrowing, mounting debt, and deepening poverty.

An ADC administration under my leadership will pursue a fundamentally different approach. Every kobo earned above the budget oil benchmark will be transparently accounted for and managed under a rules-based fiscal framework.

“Rather than borrowing recklessly in the midst of plenty, we will deploy excess revenues to reduce the nation’s debt burden, strengthen our fiscal buffers, and invest strategically in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and other productive sectors that create jobs and stimulate sustainable economic growth.

We will restore transparency in the management of oil revenues by publishing regular reports on excess crude earnings and ensuring that public finances are subject to the highest standards of accountability.

“We will cut the cost of governance, eliminate waste, block leakages, and ensure that borrowing is undertaken only for productive investments capable of generating measurable economic returns, not to finance consumption or conceal fiscal irresponsibility.

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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.