Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for urgent reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s legislature and local government systems, describing them as critical pillars for deepening democracy and delivering quality governance. He made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing lawmakers, dignitaries, and stakeholders during the 2025 National Assembly Open Week held at the House of Representatives chambers in Abuja.
In an emotionally resonant address titled “Reflections on the Growth of the House of Representatives Since 1999,” Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, reminisced about his two-decade journey in the legislature, highlighting the evolution, achievements, and ongoing challenges of Nigeria’s democratic experiment since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
“This is my first time back since I left two years ago, and I find myself filled with nostalgia,” Gbajabiamila said. “But beyond emotions, today is a moment to reflect on how far the legislature has come and the hurdles we still need to overcome to secure the promise of democracy for our people.”
Emphasizing the legislature as the “defining component” of any democracy, he described its constitutional role in lawmaking, budget oversight, and policy development as indispensable to Nigeria’s growth. He commended past and present lawmakers for laying the foundation of a people-centered parliament, despite inheriting a system devoid of institutional memory or robust democratic traditions.
Gbajabiamila, however, lamented a critical flaw in Nigeria’s governance structure: the collapse of the local government system. He noted that the failure of local governments to perform their statutory duties had forced legislators to assume roles beyond their constitutional mandate, delivering social services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, in order to remain electorally viable.
“The legislator has now become the de facto local government administrator, expected to build roads, provide water, and construct schools. But the Constitution does not support this role, nor does it provide the resources to carry it out,” he said. “This mismatch between expectation and authority is a ticking time bomb threatening the core function of the legislature.”
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Calling for urgent reforms, Gbajabiamila urged the Tinubu-led administration and National Assembly to work together to restore local government autonomy through financial independence, accountability, and transparency. He suggested that unless legislators are allowed to focus strictly on their legislative duties, the current system will continue to foster dysfunction and public resentment.
“In advanced democracies, local governments handle the everyday issues that directly impact citizens, waste management, basic healthcare, primary education, and even local security. Until Nigeria’s local governments are empowered to do the same, the pressure on legislators will only increase,” he warned.
Gbajabiamila also called for a national conversation on whether the Constitution should be amended to align with the new political realities if legislators are to continue playing dual roles. “We must choose: either let legislators be legislators or give them the mandate and tools to fulfill these new expectations legally and efficiently,” he added.
He praised the current 10th National Assembly under the leadership of Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass and Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, noting their competence and dedication to nation-building in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Highlighting recent successes, he lauded the legislature for partnering with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to implement the Renewed Hope Agenda. He referenced the recent passage and signing of key tax reform bills, describing it as a major stride toward reshaping Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary policy landscape.
Gbajabiamila urged continued support for legislative institutions like the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF), which he said are instrumental in building capacity and ensuring a vibrant, effective parliament.
“The legislature is the cradle of democracy. It is here, in these hallowed chambers, that we shape Nigeria’s future. To serve here is both a privilege and a profound responsibility,” he said, as he concluded with a rallying call for visionary, courageous, and people-centered legislative leadership.
The event drew widespread attention from lawmakers, civil society, political analysts, and media, all of whom hailed Gbajabiamila’s remarks as a timely blueprint for addressing Nigeria’s deepening governance challenges.
