Bala Bello, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been appointed Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Political Economy, promising loyalty and professional service in advancing the administration’s reform agenda.
In a statement following his appointment, Bello expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for previously appointing him to the CBN in 2023 and for entrusting him with this strategic advisory role.
“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,” he said. “I am even more grateful that he has now found me worthy to serve as Special Adviser on Political Economy.”
Bello noted that the new position will allow him to work closely with the president and contribute significantly to political and economic reforms under the “renewed hope” agenda.
“It places me in a position to work even more closely with the President and to contribute more meaningfully to the ongoing bold political and economic reforms being undertaken by the administration,” he said, pledging professionalism and loyalty in his new role.
Before joining the CBN, Bello had a distinguished career in development finance and public sector banking. He served as Executive Director at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) from 2017 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In September 2023, he was appointed Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria by President Tinubu. He also played a key role in the 2023 general elections, actively supporting Tinubu’s campaign and advocating for the rotation of presidential power to southern Nigeria.
As Special Adviser on Political Economy, Bello is expected to provide strategic advice linking political considerations with economic policy, helping guide the Tinubu administration’s reform initiatives in governance, finance, and national development.
Bello’s appointment underscores the administration’s focus on strengthening the interface between economic management and political strategy as it pursues ambitious reforms.
