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Lawan @65: Tribute to the Legislative Jinx Breaker
By OLA AWONIYI
Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the Distinguished Senator from Yobe North in Yobe State who is currently serving his seventh consecutive term in the National Assembly, turns 65 on Friday January 12. Lawan was the President of the Ninth Senate, which four-year tenure ended in June 2023. However, his legacies on that eminent seat continue to speak for him.
Lawan as Senate President and Chairman of the Ninth National Assembly presided over an era in which many legislative jinxes were broken.
At the time of his emergence as Senate President in 2019, many Bills had become “demons” for defying repeated attempts over many years or even decades to pass them into laws. It was like the Ninth Assembly deliberately picked on those difficult legislations and dealt with them to make a strong statement of its determination to serve the people.
The Ninth Assembly’s first notable feat in this respect was resetting and stabilizing the national budget cycle. Nigeria runs a January to December financial year. But at some point in the Fourth Republic, this calendar was lost as a result of late passage of Appropriation Bills.
By 2019, it was no longer certain when the fiscal year would begin or end as the Appropriation Bill was often still being processed in Parliament even by the first quarter of the year. But the Ninth Assembly decisively dealt with this anomaly and restored the fiscal year to its January to December cycle. This makes the system predictable and reliable for economic planning and investments.
However, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract CAP D3 LFN 2004 was the first “demon” to be crushed by the Ninth Assembly. That Law was long overdue for amendment as Nigeria had been heavily shortchanged for many years in her share of oil proceeds. Although the unfair sharing arrangement was there for all to see, those it benefited employed all manners of subterfuge to delay necessary amendment to the law. That was until Ahmad Lawan arrived on the scene as Senate President.
The Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract CAP D3 LFN 2004(Amendment) Bill 2019 was quickly introduced, first at the Senate. After passage by the Upper Chamber, the House of Representatives concurred without much rituals. The Bill was transmitted to the presidency immediately after passage by the two chambers. President Muhammadu Buhari was in London (on medicals) where he signed the Bill into law without delay. The evidence is there for all to see that since the amendment of this law, Nigeria’s share of oil proceeds has increased significantly.
The Petroleum Industry Bill, otherwise referred to as PIB, was another “demon” slayed by the Ninth Assembly under the leadership of Lawan. The Bill had repeatedly moved back-and-forth between the Executive and Parliament. At some point, the Bill was split into three or four and became almost unrecognisable from its original form. The Ninth Assembly confronted the “demon” headlong and delivered for Nigeria the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
Another example is the Electoral Act 2022 which was widely praised as a game changer ahead of the 2023 General Election. The legislation had suffered a series of setback in the Eighth Assembly, largely due to the rancorous relationship existing then between the Legislature and the Executive. But because Ahmad Lawan’s leadership toed a different route in that relationship, the Ninth Assembly was able to enact a law that was acceptable to Nigerians.
The Ninth Assembly delivered many other legacy Bills that had failed passage in the previous Assemblies. As a result, President Muhammadu Buhari in his second term assented to an unprecedented number of Bills, allowing him to sign into law more Bills than any of his predecessors.
All these were possible because of the smooth workings within the Parliament and productive strategic engagements with the other arms of government, particularly the Executive.
In the immediate period before the 2019 change of guards, the National Assembly had a rancorous relationship with the Executive and this adversely affected service delivery by the government to the people. But Lawan, from the outset of his leadership in 2019, promised to pursue an harmonious working relationship with the Executive without compromising the independence of the Legislature. This he achieved with ample evidence. Even critics of his leadership admit that his style cemented stability in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly and engendered harmony in governance generally at the federal level.
This piece is just to reflect briefly on some significant achievements recorded in the immediate past session of the National Assembly and to wish the Sardaunan Bade, “Senate President Emeritus,” His Excellency Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, a happy birthday and many happy returns of the day.
***Awoniyi was the Media Adviser to President of the Ninth Senate
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has extended his condolences to Senator Bukola Saraki and his family over the loss of their matriarch, Madam Florence Morenike Saraki.
In a heartfelt message, Senator Mark eulogized the late Madam Saraki as a quintessential mother who exemplified compassion, discipline, and philanthropy.
Media Adviser to the Senator, Paul Mumeh in a statement quoted him to have described her as a woman of remarkable character whose legacy is evident in the lives and achievements of her children.
“Madam Saraki was a noble woman in every sense—her kindness and contributions to the development of society will remain evergreen,” Senator Mark stated.
He praised the values she instilled in her children, noting that her teachings were instrumental in shaping Senator Saraki into a patriotic leader. “Your dedication to national service reflects Mama’s unwavering commitment to raising responsible and impactful citizens,” he added.
Senator Mark acknowledged the flood of tributes that have poured in since Madam Saraki’s passing as a testament to her virtuous life and the positive impact she made on others.
He encouraged the Saraki family to uphold the virtues their mother embodied, especially her generosity and community spirit, which endeared her to many.
Senator Mark offered prayers for the repose of Madam Saraki’s soul and for divine strength for the Saraki family as they navigate this period of mourning.
Kogi central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has joined the nation in mourning the death of renowned academic and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Nuhu Yaqub, describing his passing as a monumental loss to Nigeria’s academic and intellectual community.
In an emotion-laden statement, Senator Natasha paid glowing tribute to the late professor, highlighting his unparalleled contributions to education, leadership, and national development.
“Professor Yaqub was more than an academic; he was a visionary leader who dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and the transformation of Nigeria’s education sector,” she remarked.
Reflecting on his achievements, Senator Natasha acknowledged the profound impact Professor Yaqub had on shaping young minds and influencing policies that strengthened Nigeria’s educational framework.
“His legacy of integrity, excellence, and service will remain a guiding light for generations to come. He inspired hope and set high standards for intellectual growth and national development,” she added.
The senator extended her heartfelt condolences to Professor Yaqub’s family, colleagues, and loved ones, assuring them of her prayers and support during this difficult time.
“On behalf of the people of Kogi Central and the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I share in the grief of this great loss. May God grant his family the strength to bear this irreparable loss, and may his soul rest in eternal peace,” she concluded.
Professor Nuhu Yaqub’s death has continued to evoke widespread tributes, with many remembering him as a dedicated scholar, mentor, and administrator whose work left an enduring mark on Nigeria’s academic landscape.
Nigeria is mourning the death of General Godwin Osagie Abbe, a decorated military officer and statesman, whose passing has been described as the fall of an Iroko. Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, led tributes, calling Abbe a national hero and an irreplaceable patriot.
In a statement issued in Abuja by his media adviser Paul umeh, Mark eulogized Abbe as a “Comrade in Arms” who embodied integrity, discipline, and love for country throughout his illustrious career.
“General Abbe was a great soldier—one of the finest the Nigerian Armed Forces ever produced. In every role he served, he displayed uncommon dedication, professionalism, and patriotism,” Mark stated.
Mark highlighted Abbe’s outstanding service as Military Governor of Akwa Ibom and Rivers States, where he left “a legacy of impactful leadership and remarkable accomplishments.”
He also praised Abbe’s distinguished contributions as General Officer Commanding (GOC), Commandant of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and Commandant of the National War College (NWC), where he upheld the highest traditions of military excellence and protected Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
Reflecting on Abbe’s tenure as Minister of Defence, Mark described him as “a leader of leaders who served with wisdom and vision.”
“Nigeria has lost one of its brightest and most courageous minds. General Abbe’s death is a monumental loss to the nation and leaves a void that will be difficult to fill,” Mark added.
Senator Mark extended heartfelt condolences to Abbe’s family and prayed for God to grant them the strength to bear the loss while asking for eternal rest for the departed soul.
General Abbe’s death has drawn tributes from across Nigeria, with many remembering him as a fearless soldier, a patriotic leader, and a symbol of national service and sacrifice.
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