Jane Salihu
The legislative record of Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has earned him recognition as the Most Outstanding Deputy President of the Senate since 1999 by the Senate Press Corps (SPC).
Barau received the award on Tuesday at the National Assembly, Abuja, following an assessment of his contributions to lawmaking, legislative oversight, representation and institutional development.
Chairman of the Senate Press Corps, Comrade Taye Odewale, said the assessment placed particular emphasis on Barau’s legislative record, noting that he sponsored 49 bills within 40 months of the 10th National Assembly, five of which have been passed by the National Assembly and received presidential assent.
Odewale, who has covered the Senate for 22 years, explained that other considerations included Barau’s contributions to legislative debates, presiding responsibilities, accessibility, constituency representation and humanitarian interventions.
Among the landmark bills associated with the Deputy Senate President are the North-West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023; National Identity Management Commission (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2024; Agricultural Research Council Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Federal Medical Centre, Gwarzo, Kano State (Establishment) Bill, 2024; and Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo (Establishment) Bill, 2025.
The association also highlighted his constituency projects and empowerment initiatives benefiting residents of Kano North, Kano State and the wider North-West geopolitical zone.
His position as First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament was equally identified as another dimension of his legislative engagements beyond Nigeria’s National Assembly.
In his response, Barau expressed appreciation to the Senate Press Corps for the recognition, describing it as an encouragement to intensify his contributions to legislative development and national progress.
He said the honour was both an acknowledgement of his work and a challenge to deliver more for his constituents and Nigerians.
“This honour is not only an acknowledgement of the work we have done but also a motivation to do even more. As the popular saying goes, to whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.
The Deputy Senate President assured the journalists that he would not disappoint the Senate, the National Assembly or the country, pledging to continue strengthening democratic institutions and advancing people-oriented legislation.
He also reiterated his determination to provide purposeful representation to the people of Kano North Senatorial District and contribute to the overall development of Nigeria.
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