By Festus Fifen

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, has been named the most outstanding occupant of the office since 1999 by journalists covering the National Assembly.

The Senate Press Corps, made up of reporters who have covered the legislature since June 1999, presented the rating on Tuesday.

The rating which was based largely on his legislative output: within 40 months of the 10th Senate emphasised that Barau has sponsored 49 bills, five of which have been signed into law by the President.

The journalists also noted that of the five people to hold the office since 1999, Barau is the only one to have chaired the Appropriations Committee in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. His position as Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament was also cited as setting him apart from his predecessors.

According to the citation read at the presentation, his bills led to the establishment of the North West Development Commission, the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, and the Federal Medical Centre, Gwarzo, both in Kano State.

Responding, Barau thanked the Press Corps and said the award would spur him to do more for his constituents, the Senate and Nigerians in general.

“This recognition will serve as a propeller, motivating me to do even more,” he said, adding that the honour was also a challenge to him. “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

He pledged not to let down the Senate, the National Assembly, the wider legislature or the country, and promised to keep working for the development of the legislature and the nation.