The deputy president of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, sponsored 42 bills between June 2023 and June 2026, making him the highest private-member bill sponsor in the 10th Senate, according to records released by his office yesterday.

The disclosure came as the 10th National Assembly prepares to mark its third anniversary on June 13.

A statement by the special adviser to the deputy president of the Senate on media and publicity, Ismail Mudashir, noted that five of the bills sponsored by Barau had been passed by the National Assembly.

They include the North-West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, National Identity Management Commission (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, Agricultural Research Council Act (Amendment) Bill, Federal Medical Centre, Gwarzo (Establishment) Bill, and the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo (Establishment) Bill.

According to the statement, the deputy Senate president sponsored 13 bills in 2023, 9 in 2024, 17 in 2025 and three in 2026.

The office noted that the bills cut across various sectors, including education, health care, agriculture, renewable energy, constitutional amendments, governance, economic development, telecommunications and digital assets regulation.

Among the proposed legislations are the Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill, In-Vitro Fertilisation Bill, Renewable Energy Bill, Government Performance and Accountability Bill, E-Health Bill, Cryptocurrency Prohibition and Regulation Bill, Virtual Asset and Service Providers Bill, and several constitutional amendment bills.

According to Mudashir, the volume of bills sponsored by the lawmaker reflects his commitment to legislative reforms despite the demands of his position as the deputy president of the Senate.

“Sponsoring 42 bills in three years is, without doubt, a colossal legislative feat. Senator Barau has always been known as someone who raises the bar in all his endeavours,” he stated.

He added that Barau combined his legislative responsibilities with his role in the leadership of the Senate and his position as the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament. (Daily Trust)

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