6th ECOWAS Parliament sets up 14 standing committees… plus other resolutions

April 07 13:41 2024 by The Ajasa News Print This Article

The sixth Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, presided by Acting Speaker, Senator Barau Jibril, at its inaugural session, has adopted recommendations by its committee on selection on setting up of 14 standing committees.

The committee bordering on agriculture, health, security among others have 56 positions to be filled to guarantee the balance in languages, gender and nationality

The selection committee, which has Honourable Melvin Snowe Junior, of Liberia, as chair, had proposed to the Bureau of Parliament to uphold draft rules of procedure on the distribution and composition of the standing committees.

The parliament, however, stepped down on adoption of the report of the adhoc committee on Drafting the Rules of procedure opting to continue with rules of the fifth Legislature pending when they have scrutinised and agreed on the draft.

In his closing remarks at the closing ceremony of the inaugural session of the parliament, Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President and first Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Honourable Jibrin, reminded Parliamentarian that even though their responsibilities are heavy, they must remain totally faithful to their commitments, work together with intelligence, rigour, and determination to meet the major challenges that lie ahead.

He said that their passion, dedication, and commitment to achieving the objectives of the parliament will enable them make ECOWAS an ECOWAS of peoples where peace and prosperity reign for all.

Some parliamentarian including Senator Osita Izunaso who was also appointed a member of the adhoc committee on rules formulation, and Honourable Aniekan Bassey,
as Nigeria’s representative, pledged to promote unity and integration within the sub-region especially in light of concerns raised by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger about leaving the organization.

It will be recalled that Togo which, by virtue of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Supplementary Act, expected to produce the speaker of the 6th legislature is yet to send its delegation.