Barau Jibrin and the Search for a Constitution That Works By Ozumi Abdul
In every generation, there comes a moment when a nation must pause and reimagine the foundation on which its future stands. For Nigeria, that moment has returned — and at the heart of it stands Senator Barau I. Jibrin, the Deputy President of the Senate, guiding one of the most ambitious constitutional reforms in the country’s democratic history.
On Friday, October 25, 2025, Barau revealed that the National Assembly is currently considering 69 bills, 55 state-creation requests, two boundary adjustments, and 278 proposals for new local governments — all woven into the intricate fabric of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.
He spoke at the opening of a two-day joint retreat of the Senate and House Committees on Constitution Review in Lagos, a gathering that carried the weight of expectation and the quiet urgency of history. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Barau reminded his colleagues that the process before them was not merely legislative, but generational.
“It has been a long journey engaging constituents, stakeholders and interest groups across the country, which has culminated in these proposals before us,” he said, urging members to approach their task with sincerity and courage. “We are seated here as one committee. There should be no ‘we’ and ‘them.’ Let us be guided by the interests of Nigerians.”
Barau’s words carried the composure of a man who understands the magnitude of what he leads. For him, this review is not just about changing clauses or redrawing boundaries — it is about restoring meaning to governance, trust to representation, and coherence to a nation long fractured by contradictions.
The numbers he announced — 69 bills, 55 state proposals, and hundreds of local government requests — mirror the diversity and complexity of Nigeria’s struggles. Yet within that enormity lies Barau’s calm insistence that progress must be deliberate, inclusive, and timely. His stewardship of the process shows both discipline and empathy: the belief that laws must first listen before they can lead.
But Barau’s story goes beyond the chambers of the Senate. It is also a story of quiet impact, legislative depth, and a lifelong devotion to service.
As Deputy President of the Senate, he occupies the second-highest seat in Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, yet he has worn power with restraint and purpose. Within two years, he had already sponsored 29 private-member bills — the highest by any senator in the 10th Senate’s mid-term review. His legislative interests span the economy, education, health, security, infrastructure and agriculture, each bill reflecting not just policy intent, but lived empathy.
Among his signature achievements is the North West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill — now an Act — which channels ₦585 billion toward infrastructure and economic development in the region. The Act aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, but more than that, it mirrors Barau’s vision of development that begins where neglect has lasted longest.
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As Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, he has sponsored nine bills to amend sections of the 1999 Constitution and five education-related bills now at various stages. In every debate, his touch is that of an accountant with a conscience — precise, careful, unpretentious.
His leadership within the Senate has been steady and unifying. From his years as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee to his current position, Barau has been known for bringing order to chaos — for turning fiscal oversight into a moral exercise in accountability. His work in committees on Petroleum (Downstream), Tertiary Institutions & TETFund, Police Affairs, Industries, Environment and Inter-Parliamentary Affairs has further deepened his national reach.
It is little wonder that his colleagues chose him, unopposed, as Deputy President of the Senate on June 13, 2023. His election was not about politics alone — it was about trust, competence and the quiet influence that steadiness earns. Beyond the Senate, he also serves as First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, extending his voice to regional diplomacy and legislative integration across West Africa.
Yet for Barau Jibrin, public office is not an end in itself. It is a platform to touch lives. His interventions in education, agriculture, and youth development tell of a man who sees service not as a speech but as an act. He has funded scholarships for hundreds of indigent students within and outside Nigeria — including in futuristic fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and robotics. He has empowered farmers across the seven North West states with loans, fertilisers, and modern equipment. He has strengthened community security by donating 1,000 motorcycles to the Kano State Police and eased transportation with 107 new buses.
Even in leisure, he builds — founding Barau FC, a football club now making its way through Nigeria’s national league, giving young people hope, purpose and pride.
To those who know him, he is *Maliya* — a name spoken with affection and respect. Born on June 19, 1959, in Kabo, Kano State, Barau’s early life was shaped by simplicity and discipline. A graduate of Accounting with postgraduate studies in Financial Management and Pricing, he later earned a Master’s in Business Administration and a certificate in Financial Management for Business Decisions from Cornell University in the United States.
Before politics, he worked with the Kano State Foundation, then ventured into private enterprise — manufacturing, insurance, and construction — experiences that grounded his grasp of economic realities and fiscal discipline.
Today, that private-sector rigour meets public duty in a way few Nigerian politicians have mastered. His legislative rhythm — calm, methodical, and inclusive — reflects the patience of a man who builds brick by brick.
As Nigeria once again attempts to mend the cracks in its constitutional foundation, Barau stands at the centre of that delicate process, urging reflection over haste, substance over show. He embodies a quiet truth: that the Constitution is not just a legal document, but a moral covenant between a nation and its people.
And in his calm, deliberate way, Barau Jibrin is helping Nigeria find a Constitution that finally works — not merely on paper, but in the lives it touches.
Ozumi Abdul is a Senior Correspondent at PRNigeria and a strategic communication expert. He can be reached via [email protected]
