Legislature Critical To Success Of Democracy- Gbajabiamila

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged Nigerians to strengthen their understanding and support for the country’s legislature, describing it as central to the success of democracy.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 house of representatives Open Week with the theme Deepening Citizens” Trust and Participation: Celebrating Our Journey as the People’s house in Abuja, Gbajabiamila reflected on the progress and challenges of the nation’s federal legislature since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.

The former Speaker, who served in the House for two decades, said the National Assembly has grown into a “people’s parliament” despite limited institutional memory and the absence of a clear legislative roadmap in its early years.

“Most of those who formed the legislature in 1999 had spent their most active years under military rule. Yet, they built a system that has grown stronger with each Assembly,” he said.

He praised the commitment of past and present lawmakers, describing the legislature as the key democratic institution that links citizens to governance, crafts laws, oversees national spending, and shapes public policy.

Gbajabiamila, however, warned of growing misconceptions about the role of lawmakers, driven largely by the failure of the local government system.

He said many citizens now expect National Assembly members to provide social services like schools, healthcare, and road projects — tasks constitutionally assigned to local governments.

“The legislator is being judged not by how well they legislate, but by how many boreholes or empowerment schemes they provide,” he said.

“This disconnect between expectations and constitutional mandate is one of the biggest threats to our democracy.”

He called for urgent reforms to restore a functional and independent local government system, arguing that doing so would allow legislators to focus on their core duties of lawmaking and oversight.

“If local governments are strengthened and properly funded, legislators can return to their primary task of policymaking and representation,” he said.

Gbajabiamila also backed the work of legislative support institutions such as the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF), urging lawmakers to invest in their development.

He commended the current 10th House of Representatives, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, for building on the legacy of past legislatures, and praised the National Assembly for supporting the administration’s agenda through timely scrutiny and passage of key bills.

The former lawmaker said Nigeria’s legislature must be equipped to respond to global shifts, especially as the world redefines its rules amid technological change and evolving power dynamics.

“The legislature is the cradle of democracy,” he said. “To serve here is a great honour and a responsibility to shape a better future for our country.”

The National Assembly Open Week continues with events aimed at increasing public engagement and deepening understanding of legislative processes.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji