The Senate Press Corps (SPC) has recognised the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, as the Most Outstanding Deputy President of the Senate since the return to democratic governance in Nigeria in 1999.
The award was presented on Tuesday at the National Assembly in Abuja during a ceremony attended by the leadership and members of the Senate Press Corps, the umbrella body of journalists covering the Nigerian Senate.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the SPC, Comrade Taye Odewale, said the recognition followed an assessment of Barau’s legislative contributions, leadership and presiding responsibilities, participation in debates, oversight activities, constituency representation, accessibility and commitment to humanitarian services.
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Odewale, who has covered the Senate for 22 years, highlighted the Deputy Senate President’s legislative record, disclosing that Barau had sponsored 48 bills within 40 months of the 10th National Assembly, five of which had been passed into law.
He said the assessment also considered Barau’s contributions to legislative development and the quality of lawmaking, alongside his performance in other responsibilities attached to his office.
Key Legislative Imitiatives
Among the key legislative initiatives cited by the SPC chairman were 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 acknowledged the senator’s constituency development and empowerment initiatives, which it said had benefited different categories of people across Kano North Senatorial District, Kano State, the North-West geopolitical zone and the country.
Barau, who also serves as the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, thanked the Senate Press Corps for the recognition, describing the award as an acknowledgement of his legislative contributions and an encouragement to do more.
He said the honour came with greater responsibility, pledging to remain committed to strengthening democratic institutions, promoting people-oriented legislation and delivering effective representation to his constituents.
“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 added: “I assure you that I will not let you down. I will not let the Senate down; I will not let the National Assembly down, and I will not let the entire legislature or our country down.
“I remain committed to strengthening our democratic institutions, advancing people-oriented legislation and delivering purposeful representation to my constituents in Kano North Senatorial District.”
The recognition highlights Barau’s legislative activities and leadership responsibilities in the 10th National Assembly, which commenced in June 2023.
