ABUJA — The ECOWAS Parliament has renewed its push for enhanced legislative and oversight powers, arguing that greater institutional authority is essential to make the regional body more effective and accountable to citizens.
The call was delivered on Tuesday during an official visit by the President of Senegal and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, to the legislature’s headquarters.
Welcoming President Faye, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, highlighted the structural limitations facing the assembly a quarter-century after its inception.“Twenty-five years after its creation, the ECOWAS Parliament remains essentially a consultative body and, up to this point, does not have all the prerogatives of a fully-fledged legislative body,” Ms Ibrahima said. She stressed that granting full legislative powers would strengthen the credibility of regional governance and align the institution more closely with the needs of West African citizens.
Assembly of the Peoples
In response, President Faye praised parliamentarians for their role in conflict prevention, mediation, and legislative harmonisation across the bloc. Describing the body as the “Assembly of the Peoples,” Mr. Faye reaffirmed its vital role in promoting peace, social cohesion, and democratic stability across the sub-region.
He assured lawmakers of his full support as head of the regional authority and accepted an invitation to address a future plenary session to outline his strategic vision for West Africa.
Calls for Institutional Reform
Supporting the Speaker’s remarks, Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President and First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibrin, praised the Senegalese leader’s visit as a milestone for inter-institutional cooperation.Senator Jibrin noted that closer interaction between the legislative branch and the Authority of Heads of State would deepen integration and help build a more responsive regional community.The visit concluded with lawmakers reiterating the need for stronger institutional support and adequate resourcing to help the assembly fulfill its broader mandate across the region.
Add Comment