Kwara At 53 : Saraki's Legacy - Gbemisola Ruqayat Saraki

Gbemisola Ruqayat Saraki is currently the Minister of State Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appointed into office on the 21st of August 2019 by his Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari  to represent the Kwara central senatorial district.

She was born in May 3,1965 to the family of Olusola Abubakar Saraki and Florence Saraki

Senator Gbemisola Saraki attended the prestigious Cheltenham Ladies College,Cheltenham,Gloucestershire,England between 1972-1982,she also attended Brook House College,Market Harborough,Leicestershire,England between 1982-1984 and proceeded to the University of Sussex in the United kIngdom and earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

She did her national youth service at the Nigerian Bank of Commerce and Industry,Lagos with duties which included loans assessment and disbursement as well as credit analysis and risk management.

She continued to gain banking experiences with Societe General Bank (Nigeria) Limited,as Head of Money Markets and later of Domiciliary Accounts.

Gbemisola Saraki joined politics in 1999 when Democracy returned to Nigeria.

In 1999,she was elected as a member of the House of Representative under the banner of  People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

In 2003,She was elected under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party as a senator representing kwara central senatorial district.

In 2007,she re-contested and won again,serving as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years (2003-2011)

At the Senate Saraki chaired several high profile committees,which includes the Senate Committee on National Planning, Poverty Alleviation and Economic Affairs, and Senate Committee on corruption,her last duty call was the Senate Committee on Marine Transportation.

She also acted as vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and belonged to the following committees;

1.Media and Publicity;

2.Women Affairs and Youth Development;

3.Environment and Ecology;and Public Accounts;

4.Senate Committee on Commerce;

5.Rules and Business, Police Affairs

6.Inter-governmental Affairs and Aviation

Gbemisola Saraki was also a returning member of the ECOWAS Parliament

 

 

In 2011,she relinquished her Senatorial seat to contest for the gubernatorial election of kwara state under the ACPN party but lost the election to Abdufatah Ahmed of PDP.

Saraki was an active member of the following House Committees (1999-2003):

*House Committee on Aviation;

*Foreign Travel Habitat;

*Legislative Budget and Research Office;

*Privatization

*special duties

*Transport

*Navy

 

As a legislator 2003-2011 she was a member of several committees

In 2007-2011,she chaired the Senate committee on National Planning, Poverty Alleviation and Economic Affairs.

She also acted as Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.

And in 2015,on the eve of the presidential election,she defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In 2016,February precisely,saraki was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari  as Pro Chancellor and Chairperson of the Federal University,Otuoke Bayelsa State.

In 2017(13th February),Saraki was appointed one of the 16 member committee to re-negotiate it’s 2009 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

In 2019,President Muhammadu Buhari appointed her as the Minister of State for Transportation

Her legislative experience in the House of Representative and the Senate  chairing committees and been members of divergent committees have enabled GRS  to develop a critical understanding of the issues confronting Nigeria.

GRS is a visionary leader  who works tirelessly to improve the rating of our beloved country in areas cutting across poverty,corruption,economic development,education,energy,health etc

 

Hardworking GRS while serving as Senator presented the following bills to the Senate :

1.National Agency for Corruption Safety and Health (establishment)2004

2.Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2004

3.Protective Helments (Mandatory Use)Bill 2004

4.Legal Aid Council (Amendment) Bill 2004

5.Existing Vacancies (Publication)Bill 2005

6.Public Interest Disclosure Bill 2005

7.Skills Acquisition and Development Trust Fund 2007

8.Police Tax Fund 2007

9.Coast Guard Bill 2007

10.Anti-Terrorism Bill 2008

11.Mortgage Regulatory Bill 2009

12.Labour Act Amendment Bill 2009