The sixth parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament) at the 2024 second extraordinary session of the parliament holding in Kano, North West Nigeria, considered and adopted crucial parliamentary instruments to guide the progress and implementation of its mandate.

The instruments consist of the rules of procedure, the strategic plan and the 2024 work plan of the parliament.

Acting Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, in his speech at the session’s opening, stressed the importance of the protocols in facilitating the work of the parliament.

“This Extraordinary Session is unique on several counts. During this session, we are expected to hold deliberations and adopt three very important instruments which bear heavily on the progress and effective implementation of our mandate.

They are The Rules of Procedure of the Sixth Legislature, which was deferred from our inaugural session—the Strategic Plan of the Sixth Legislature and 2024 Annual Work Plan.

“You would agree with me that our Rules of Procedure are very important as they make us more efficient and serve as our guide, thereby reducing the chances of our actions and decisions being challenged for procedural deficiencies.

“The Strategic Plan, on the other hand, will serve as a crucial and indispensable tool in ensuring that our programs and activities are directly linked with the overall strategic institutional objectives of ECOWAS, while our Work Plan will set the agenda for our engagements this year, he said.

The adoption of these instruments now sets the stage for the full commencement of parliamentary activities by the community parliament.

By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

KANO, Nigeria – The ECOWAS Parliament has announced plans to establish a mediation committee aimed at re-integrating aggrieved member states.

This decision was revealed by the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibril, while opening the second extraordinary session of the Parliament in Kano, Northwestern Nigeria.

Addressing the session, Senator Barau emphasized the critical need for Parliament’s intervention in regional issues, as highlighted by the President of the ECOWAS Commission during the Inaugural Session.

Barau said the President had called for urgent efforts to prevent the disintegration of the regional bloc, particularly with the potential departures of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. He also stressed the importance of confronting non-state groups vying for control of resources and marginalizing states, which has led to severe insecurity, especially in the Sahel region.

“In consultation with my colleagues on the Bureau, I will propose the appointment of an Ad hoc Mediation Committee,” Senator Barau stated. “The committee’s mandate will be to work with all stakeholders to encourage our brothers to rescind their decision and come back, and to promote dialogue to resolve conflicts in the region. Our strength lies in unity, and there is no alternative to our collective aspirations of a united, peaceful, and secure ECOWAS.”

Senator Barau also mentioned a Parliamentary Fact-Finding mission dispatched to Togo. The delegation investigated the reasons behind the notable absence of the Togolese delegation, who, according to the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the Parliament, should hold the Speakership. Discussions with national stakeholders yielded positive responses, and Senator Barau reported that Togolese authorities assured the imminent inauguration of their parliamentary representatives.

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Apart from their usual meetings in Abuja, the ECOWAS Parliament has brought its second extraordinary session to Kano.

Addressing the press after a closed-door session of the ECOWAS Parliament, the First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, said the meeting will bring the legislature closer to the people and make them aware of the happenings.