Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin has said Oluremi Tinubu’s dedication, punctuality and commitment to her duties as a senator were rewarded by God with her emergence as Nigeria’s First Lady.
Barau made the statement on Tuesday during plenary while backing a proposal for senators’ attendance to be recorded at the end of each sitting to acknowledge lawmakers who remain in the chamber until proceedings are concluded.
He said commitment to legislative responsibilities attracts recognition not only from colleagues and Senate leadership but also from God.
“Let me even say one thing, apart from being compensated by colleagues or by the leadership, God also compensates you, rewards you for what you are doing,” Barau said.
He cited the former Lagos Central senator as an example, noting that she was known for arriving early and participating fully in Senate proceedings during her 12 years as a lawmaker.
“I will give you a good example. The current first lady, she used to be the number one person, first person that always came to this senate.
“When she was in the Senate, the most punctual – very punctual – and she would stay throughout the session.
“She would come here before any other person. So, you see, God has rewarded her with the position of first lady,” he added.
The Deputy Senate President urged lawmakers to take their responsibilities seriously, reminding them that their mandate was to serve Nigerians.
The proposal for end-of-session attendance tracking was earlier introduced by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), who suggested that the Senate adopt a similar practice used by the House of Representatives to identify and appreciate lawmakers who remain until adjournment.
Supporting the idea, Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno recalled that he was honoured for punctuality during his time in the House of Representatives under former Speaker Yakubu Dogara, saying the recognition contributed to his rise to the position of chief whip in the current Senate.
Oluremi Tinubu represented Lagos Central in the Senate from June 2011 to June 2023 before becoming First Lady after her husband, President Bola Tinubu, won the 2023 presidential election.