Jonathan says stronger ECOWAS Parliament coming

Goodluck Jonathan,
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Jonathan says stronger ECOWAS Parliament coming

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria says activities are underway to strengthen the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s parliament to act beyond playing an advisory role.

Jonathan made this known on Thursday at the inaugural session of the third legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, where Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu was elected as the new Speaker.

The ECOWAS' Parliament plays advisory and consultative roles to the authorities of the Heads of State and Government on issues bordering on regional integration.

Jonathan said the plan to facelift the parliament’s role was the latest initiative by the ECOWAS, noting that the parliament would be more involved in joint decision-making in specific areas.

Election of mayors

The ECOWAS Chairman said that previous legislations had begun discussions on the elections of mayors in the community parliament, but pointed out that there had been unavoidable delay in holding those elections in various states.

“I am convinced that the future elections of mayors of the community parliament by direct universal suffrage will constitute guarantee for the demographic vitality of ECOWAS and its Parliament,” he said.

Jonathan urged the new members of parliament to strive towards achieving the goal of electing mayors and improving development issues focusing on integration.

The ECOWAS President, James Gbeho, in his remark, urged members of parliament to cultivate the spirit of cooperation with other stakeholders in the integration process.

Need for corporation

“You will be tasked with the onerous responsibility of advising the community on the formulation, review, and interpretation of key ECOWAS instruments.

“More importantly, you will ensure that decisions taken at the community level are domesticated in national legislation and find traction and application in member states.

“You will also need to take urgent measures to facilitate the fast-tracking of the outstanding decision to elect future members of the community parliament through direct universal suffrage in member states,’’ he said.

The first legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament was inaugurated in 2000 for a five-year tenure, with Prof. Ali Nouhoum Diallo of Mali, as the first Speaker.

The second legislature was from 2006 to 2010 with Mahamane Ousmane of Niger as Speaker.

 NAN/Williams