By Linus Aleke
As part of an effort to ensure strict implementation of projects in communities across West Africa by relevant ECOWAS institutions, the Community Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has vowed to prioritize its oversight function, in the 2023 fiscal year.
This is even as the Parliament also, promised to use its partnerships to seek skills development for its staff, as well as knowledge sharing in areas of common competence.
The Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis, said this while addressing the audience at the official opening of the First Extra-Ordinary Session of the Parliament, in Guinea Bissau.
He noted that one fundamental part of its obligation is that members must exercise oversight duties over the activities of programs implementing bodies of the community.
Dr Tunis said: “We intend to be more robust and practical in our oversight approach this year. We shall conduct several fact-finding and oversight missions to ascertain the level of implementation of key integration programs, including the Free Movements of Peoples, Goods and Services, the Common Market and Trade Liberalization Scheme, as well as Gender and Youth Development, among others. We are also very convinced that to achieve the objectives of this Parliament, we must do so in concert with our regional counterparts. This year, we will further strengthen our relations with our regional bodies and external partners, which is an efficient way of realizing the benefits of integration”.
The Speaker expressed optimism that MPs will rededicate themselves to the task at hand and work harmoniously to achieve the success they desire.
On the objective of the ongoing session, Dr Tunis said: “It is statutory to dedicate the 1st Extraordinary Session of each year to the consideration of our Annual Work Plan. As such, we have convened this Session with that being our primary objective. It is also very important to note that as we consider our activities for the year, we are doing so being
fully aware that we are scaling down in the tenure of the Fifth Legislature. Therefore, it would be very appropriate not only to outline and plan our activities for the year but in so doing, to take stock of our performance so far, review the progress we have made and reflect on ways in which we can improve on the quality of our service to the people of the region. Because it is to them, we owe allegiance as Members of Parliament and whose interest we swore to uphold”.
He concluded that the administration, led by the Secretary-General, has drafted and presented to the Parliament a draft Annual Work Plan of activities for the year 2023, which has been considered by the Bureau and the Conference of Committees Bureau and is now before the Plenary for approval.
