7 things to know about Tinubu's new appointee who has served under every Lagos gov from 1999

Olatunji Bello, whose appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice-Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) was approved by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, has served in every Lagos State administration since 1999.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced Bello’s appointment, on Monday, saying it is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Facing lawmakers for screening is nothing new to Bello who was first appointed by Tinubu, first civilian governor of Lagos under the current democratic dispensation. He had served as Head of Lagos Signage and Advertising Agency (LASSA), before he was given a portfolio. A journalist, lawyer, public servant, author, social commentator, below are things to know about Bello, who will replace Adamu Ahmed Abdullahi, who had been occupying the role in acting capacity since the sack of Babatunde Irukera, on January 8, 2024.

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EARLY LIFE

Olatunji Bello was born July 1, 1961

SCHOOL

He has a BSc Degree from the University of Ibadan where he studied Political science and graduated in 1984. He earned his master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy ML.D in (1987) from the University of Lagos.

He also earned a Bachelor of Law degree from the same University of Lagos, Nigeria, in the year 2000.

Bello is a Barrister at Law (BL) qualifying from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos In 2001 having graduated with LL.B (Hons.) (Bachelor Of Law).

MEDIA CAREER

Tunji Bello started his media career at the defunct Concord Press of Nigeria where he grew to become an Editor. He started out as a Features Writer; was also an Assistant Features Editor. His career in journalism grew so quickly that he became a Politics Editor at the age of 27.

He was later promoted to the Editor of the Sunday title and later Editor of the Daily title of the Concord Newspapers Group.

He was also appointed Chairman of the Editorial Board of THISDAY Newspaper in 2000. He was a Staff Writer with St. Petersburg Times, Florida, US, and also the US News & World Report, Washington DC in 1992.

POLITICAL CAREER

As a student at the University of Ibadan, Tunji Bello was Vice President of the University of Ibadan Students Union. He has always agitated for democracy since the 80s. His mainstream national political career started when he served as the Special Assistant to Bashorun MKO Abiola, winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, Presidential election.

NADECO STRUGGLE

After the annulment of the epochal election, Tunji Bello became a member of the Nigerian pro-democracy group, NADECO which fought for the actualisation of Democracy in Nigeria, which was active from 1993 to 1999.

After the handing over from the Military rule to the Democratic dispensation in 1999, Tunji Bello joined the then former Governor of Lagos State and current President, Bola Tinubu, in his cabinet where he served as the Head of Signage and Advertising Agency (LASSA) and also the Commissioner for Environment in the Tinubu administration in 2003.

In July 2011, he joined Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration as he was sworn in by the Governor as Commissioner for Environment where he served till May 29, 2015.

In 2015, after the swearing in of the former Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Tunji Bello was appointed as the Secretary to the State Government on the 29th May 2015 serving till the end of Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration in 2019.

In 2019, he joined incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration and was sworn in as the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, following the confirmation of his nomination as a cabinet member by the State House of Assembly and he is still in service.

FEDERAL APPOINTMENT

On June 24, 2024, Tinubu, whom he started his core political journey with, put him in charge of the agency responsible for protecting market competition and promoting consumer protection. FCCPC is the highest federal competition regulator in Nigeria.