By Adamu Yusuf
The Senate Press Corps has honoured the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, with an award recognising him as the most outstanding Deputy President of the Senate since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999.
Presenting the award and citation at a ceremony, the Chairman of the Senate Press Corps, Chairman of the Senate Press Corps, Taye Odewale said the recognition followed an assessment of Senator Barau’s legislative contributions, leadership qualities, courage and commitment to the development of the legislature.
Comrade Taye Odewale explained that the assessment was based on the Fourth Republic, considering the different political and institutional challenges that characterised Nigeria’s democratic experiences before 1999.
In the citation, the Press Corps described Senator Barau as the most outstanding among the five Nigerians who had occupied the office of Deputy President of the Senate since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.
The citation highlighted his contributions to lawmaking, presiding abilities, quality participation in legislative debates, oversight functions, responsive representation, accessibility and commitment to humanitarian activities.
It further stated that Senator Barau had sponsored 48 bills in the National Assembly, describing the figure as the highest recorded by any Deputy President of the Senate within a comparable period.
Among the bills sponsored by him and passed into law are the North-West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2023, National Identity Management Commission Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2024, Agricultural Research Council Act Amendment Bill 2024, Federal Medical Centre, Gwazo, Kano State Establishment Bill 2024, and Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, Establishment Bill 2025.
The Press Corps also commended Senator Barau’s contributions to legislative debates and his ability to preside over Senate plenary sessions whenever he stands in for the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The citation noted that his representation of Kano North Senatorial District, Kano State, the North-West geopolitical zone and the country had been demonstrated through various constituency projects and empowerment programmes.
It also acknowledged his previous legislative experience as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Population from 1999 to 2003 and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population from 2019 to 2023.
Responding to the honour, Senator Barau expressed appreciation to the Senate Press Corps, describing the award as a source of encouragement and motivation to contribute more to legislative development.
He said the recognition also came with greater responsibility and expectations, assuring that he would not disappoint the Senate, the National Assembly, the legislature or Nigerians.
The Deputy President of the Senate pledged to intensify efforts towards strengthening legislative institutions and ensuring that the legislature continued to play its role in national development.
He thanked the Senate Press Corps for the recognition, promising to remain committed to the advancement of the legislature and the country.
Editing by Khadija Kubau
