Gbajabiamila and Delta Speaker Support State Police and Power Sharing

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, and Emomotimi Guwor, the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, are backing changes to the constitution. They support setting up state police and sharing powers, saying these moves are key to making Nigeria's security better and improving federalism.

The two spoke on Tuesday during the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja. They also highlighted the importance of transparency, accountability, and teamwork between the executive, legislature, and citizens in promoting democracy.

Gbajabiamila mentioned that the National Assembly’s Open Week should not just be a formality. He insisted it must give Nigerians a real chance to look into legislative activities, engage with lawmakers, and hold public institutions accountable.

"An Open Week must be more than the ceremonial opening of the gates of parliament. It should be an invitation to scrutiny, dialogue and partnership," he said.

"Citizens should be able to follow how laws are made, understand how public resources are appropriated, and see how legislative oversight protects the national interest."

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives also urged for wider citizen involvement in lawmaking. He emphasized that young people, women, persons with disabilities, civil society groups, the private sector, and professional bodies should have their voices heard in national matters.

"Transparency turns constitutional authority into public trust. Inclusion ensures that the voices of our diverse people are not only heard but reflected in national priorities, while reform keeps our institutions responsive to changing realities and capable of delivering better outcomes," he added.

Looking back at his time as Speaker, Gbajabiamila said democracy works best when the executive and legislature cooperate within the Constitution.

"While the executive and the legislature are separate arms of government, they share one ultimate mandate, which is to improve the lives of the Nigerian people."

"Constructive cooperation does not diminish legislative independence, nor does robust debate amount to institutional conflict. Our democracy is strengthened when both arms engage with mutual respect, constitutional fidelity and a clear focus on results."

He advised lawmakers to focus on outcomes instead of just legislative activities.

"As we reflect on the past three years of the 10th Assembly, I encourage us to look beyond the record of activities to the measure of impact, laws that solve real problems, budgets that translate into visible development, oversight that improves performance, and representation that renews citizens’ confidence in government," he stated.

Gbajabiamila reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to a good relationship with the National Assembly in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

"The Presidency remains committed to a productive relationship with the National Assembly in pursuit of security, economic renewal, social justice and shared prosperity. Nigerians expect their institutions to work together," he stressed.

Speaking for the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Guwor called insecurity Nigeria’s biggest challenge. He said constitutional reforms are a chance to strengthen governance and improve national security.

"Insecurity remains the greatest challenge confronting our nation today. While effective legislation and sound public policy are indispensable, lasting solutions require sustained engagement with the people and stronger collaboration among government, legislatures, security agencies, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and local communities."

"Security is a shared responsibility, and through collective action, we can build a safer and more peaceful nation," he stated.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for pursuing reforms aimed at solving the country’s security issues. He also commended the National Assembly for working on constitutional changes for state policing and power sharing.

"We commend President Bola Tinubu for his steadfast commitment to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges through institutional reforms."

"We equally commend the leadership and members of the National Assembly for their vision, patriotism and unwavering commitment to the ongoing constitutional deliberations on state policing and the devolution of powers. These efforts reflect a genuine determination to strengthen our federal system and build a more secure, responsive and effective governance structure," he said.

According to him, the proposed constitutional changes could greatly improve Nigeria’s governance if they are enacted and implemented well.

"If adopted and faithfully implemented, these constitutional reforms have the potential to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, improve intergovernmental coordination, bring governance closer to the people and reinforce the principles of true federalism envisioned by our Constitution."

He promised that the Conference of Speakers will keep working with the National Assembly, the Presidency, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and other stakeholders to make sure the reforms succeed.

"The Conference of Speakers stands ready to continue working closely with the National Assembly, the Presidency and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that these reforms ultimately serve the best interests of the Nigerian people," he said.

The National Assembly Open Week is an annual program meant to promote transparency, accountability, and public participation in the legislative process. It allows citizens to have direct access to how parliament works through public engagements, interactive sessions, and policy discussions.

This year's edition happens as the National Assembly ramps up work on various constitutional changes. These include proposals on state police, sharing powers, electoral reforms, judicial reforms, and local government autonomy. These changes are seen as some of the most significant since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999.