The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament convened an extraordinary session yesterday to deliberate on appointing an ad hoc mediation committee, aiming to address the absence of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. These countries have reportedly reconsidered their membership in the parliament.
During the opening of the 2024 second extraordinary session of the 6th legislature in Kano, Senator Barau Jibrin, the first deputy speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and deputy senate president of Nigeria, emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration between the ECOWAS Parliament and other ECOWAS institutions. He underscored the need to promote democracy, strengthen security, and advance regional development through joint efforts.
Senator Barau remarked, “It is essential to build robust collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and undertake joint initiatives to enhance regional security and foster development. While each institution has distinct roles, addressing cross-cutting issues effectively requires increased cooperation among community institutions.”
He further noted, “As the Parliament seeks to promote democracy, enforce checks and balances, and ensure accountability within the ECOWAS Community, a strong and independent ECOWAS Parliament is crucial.”
Having led the Parliament for just two months, Senator Barau acknowledged the challenges ahead in asserting the Parliament’s independence in its oversight and representative functions. He reiterated the urgent need for collaborative efforts to tackle regional challenges and drive progress.
