Bello Hails Tinubu Over New Advisory Role, Pledges Loyalty

Newly appointed special adviser to the President on Political Economy, Bala Bello, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve,

He pledged loyalty and professionalism in advancing the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Bello, who until recently served as deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was appointed to the strategic advisory position as part of a restructuring within the government’s economic management team.

In a message over the weekend  following his appointment, he thanked President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him, recalling that the president had earlier appointed him to serve at the apex bank in 2023.

“I am grateful to President Tinubu for appointing me to the Central Bank of Nigeria and giving me the privilege to serve for the past 30 months,” Bello said.

“I am even more grateful that he has again found me worthy to serve as Special Adviser on Political Economy.”

He noted that the new role would enable him to work more closely with the president while contributing more meaningfully to the administration’s ongoing political and economic reforms.

According to him, the position places him in a vantage position to support the government’s reform agenda.

“It places me in a position to work even more closely with the President and to contribute more meaningfully to the bold political and economic reforms being undertaken by the administration,” he added.

Bello assured the president of his commitment to the assignment.

“I assure the President that I will continue to serve with professionalism and loyalty,” he said.

Before his appointment to the CBN, Bello built a career in development finance and public sector banking.

He served as Executive Director at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) from April 2017 to September 2023, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In September 2023, President Tinubu appointed him Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Bello was also active in the political mobilisation ahead of the 2023 general elections

He was among early advocates of power rotation to southern Nigeria following the eight-year tenure of Buhari.

During the 2023 campaign season, he aligned with Tinubu’s political camp and worked within the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

He served in two directorates , the Logistics and Support Services Directorate led by Ibrahim Masari, now Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, and the Stakeholder Engagement Directorate headed by Nuhu Ribadu.

With his appointment as Special Adviser on Political Economy, Bello is expected to provide strategic guidance linking political considerations with economic policy as the administration continues to pursue its reform programme.