Legislative – Executive Cohesion: DSP Barau’s Multiple Efforts

By Abba Anwar

Being from the Legislative arm, with outstanding performances, the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, makes extra effort to remind Nigerians the salient achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, after rigorous and cumulative legislative engagements by the National Assembly.

This singular act from the DSP, of showcasing deliverables from Tinubu’s executive responsibilities, speaks volumes of amplifying federal government feats, being achieved and at the same time, promoting cohesion, in many instances, between the two arms, legislature and the executive.

Without abandoning his legislative territory and responsibilities, he clearly understands the need for helping the executive to tell the electorate and beyond, how commendable and stressful are democratic dividends trickling down to the citizenry, in a globally challenging spaces. Of which Nigeria is a political entity.

In his un-paradoxical analysis of trending discussions DSP gives bit-by-bit, unambiguous and enhanced account of Tinubu’s fulfillment of his (President’s) part of the social contract entered in the Nigerian project.

The Deputy Senate President is not doing this at the expense of his legislative responsibilities. His legislative primary responsibility ha never been at the receiving end since the inauguration of the 10th Senate /Assembly on 13th June, 2023.

In fact as at December, 2024, he was the highest sponsor of private member Bills, with 21 Bills to his credit. For that he was honoured with the Award of the Highest Number of Private Member Bills Sponsorship by the Senate Press Corps, then. An umbrella platform of both Nigerian and foreign journalists reporting from the Senate.

In my decades of being on this planet, this is the first time I came across a very senior legislative member creating awareness on the activities, programmes, policies and projects of the Executive arm, for posterity purposes. Without feeling short-changed, shortsighted and shorthanded.

Even the nature of Bills he privately sponsored, says a lot in giving you the picture of his resourcefulness, creativity, deeply rooted sensitivity and unwavering responsibility. A dull legislator, cannot do half of what he faces, treats and achieves.

One can spot Senator Jibrin’s intellectual capacity, when you see the nature of Bills he sponsored. Among them are, Development Planning and Projects Continuity Bill (2023) – informed by his worry on abandoned projects all over the federation -, Cyber Crimes (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill (2023) – emanates from his concern for safer and better Nigeria -, North West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill (2023) – stemming from his quest for quicker regional development for the overall national development- and Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, (Establishment) Bill (2023) – influenced by his zeal for literacy and numeracy for his primary constituency, Kano North and the nation by extension/implication.

As aforementioned, the Distinguished Senator, did bit-by-bit analysis, of the administration’s strive in many spheres of national development, goodwill posture and genuine political engagement. A de facto Tinubu’s spokesperson, of sort, with his higher legislative position, an improved player in the art of legislation and unassuming orator.

As he reminded people the real launching pad of the nation’s woes, he aptly captured the global perspective of the tainted experience. He argued, “In the past decades, all spheres of our country—power, road infrastructure, agriculture, education, health, water, housing, and others—have been begging for genuine attention.

This is coupled with the fact that this government came on board at the time that the entire world economy was and is still quite turbulent due to the high cost of basic goods and services all over the world arising from Russia -Ukraine, and Israel–Palestine wars. Nigeria is certainly not an exception.” This is modernity with scholarship.

He still acknowledges that, “By May 29, it will be exactly two years since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration came on board in the country. Yes, we are not there, and we cannot be in the promised land in less than 23 months when the numerous challenges facing our beloved country have weighed us down for decades.

But a journey has started—the road is rough, but it’s for the restoration of our country’s glorious days. It is not easy to rebuild a shattered building.” Doing justice to the entire argument.

The Senator courageously requested Nigerians “… to support Tinubu in his quest to address the challenges facing the country.”

Raising hopes that, “The good news is that the President is genuinely committed to addressing these challenges. Fresh air is already permeating all the country’s spheres, nooks and crannies to the admiration of lovers and good people, irrespective of differences and persuasions.”

On the improved security system and coordinated network, he has this to say, “For instance, admirable success has been recorded in the area of security. Hundreds of terrorists have been neutralised in the North West geopolitical zone. Yes, there are pockets of cases of kidnapping and attacks, but they are minimal compared to before the coming of this administration. The instances of incessant kidnapping on the Abuja/Kaduna road have become history.

In the Southeast, the activities of unknown gunmen terrorising the region have been on the downward side. In the North East, Boko Haram was almost completely eradicated until the recent attacks in some parts of Borno State.”

Adding that, ” I am confident that our gallant members of the Armed Forces will act decisively to smoke them out permanently. The people of the remaining five states in the North East live peacefully and conduct their lawful businesses—commendation to our gallant officers and men of the Armed Forces and other sister security agencies.”

The result of which he highlighted, ” With the enhanced peace across the country, the Federal government has recently launched phase one of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) to revolutionise and industrialise the agricultural sector. SAPZ aims to transform Nigeria’s agriculture landscape through innovation, private-sector investments and strategic public partnerships.

The zones are designed to create agro-industrial hubs that integrate farmers with processors, reduce post-harvest losses and expand rural economic opportunities. Seven states, namely Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Cross River, and Federal Capital Territory, have been selected for phase one, while Bauchi, Borno, and Gombe are listed for phase 2.”

For taking development to grassroot, Senator Jibrin appreciated Tinubu administration for the establishment of the North-West, North Central, South-East, South-West, and South-South Development Commissions. And for the overall development of the regions. It is still fresh in our memories that it was him who presented private Bill to the Senate for the establishment of North West Development Commission.

For infrastructural development the architect of our regional development cited and appreciated Abuja—Kaduna—Kano highway reconstruction, which was dragged on under Muhammadu Buhari administration for eight years. And few years before him.

While touching on the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) under President Tinubu, as thousands of students across the country benefitted, their parents and guardians were relieved of the ever-present stress of school fees, he reviewed in summary, policies directed at turning around nation’s economy.

As a de facto Spokesperson, if you will, the Deputy Senate President critically observed that, “President Tinubu has been working genuinely to correct the fiscal misalignments. He has attracted Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) worth Billions of Dollars, paid the forex backlog and cleared the ways and means of the Trillion Naira he inherited from the last administration.”

With all these the Distinguished Senator representing Kano North Senatorial District, has not left his legislative responsibilities as his primary task-shouldering engagement. As acknowledged by the Nigerian – American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), when they honoured him recently with Excellence in Legislative Leadership Award.

The Award acknowledges that, “In recognition of his outstanding leadership skills, stakeholder engagement for peace and unity in Nigeria and support for education and agriculture in Kano and beyond.”

His outings and speeches around the country show how glued his heart is with national development. As he made his remark to the organizers of the Award by NACC, he said this out of genuine patriotism,” Let us continue to work together, serving with passion, integrity and dedication as we contribute to building a better Nigeria.”

Anwar was Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON and can be reached at fatimanbaba1@gmail.com April 17th, 2025