The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States has renewed calls for stronger legislative and oversight powers, arguing that greater institutional authority is needed to make the regional legislature more representative and responsive to citizens.
The call was made Tuesday when the ECOWAS Parliament received Senegalese President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, during an official visit to the legislature in Abuja.
Welcoming Faye, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, acknowledged the priorities of the Senegalese president, including collective security, dialogue, regional cohesion, economic sovereignty and political stability.
She, however, said the Parliament continued to face institutional limitations 25 years after its establishment.
“25 years after its creation, the ECOWAS Parliament remains essentially a consultative body and, up to this point, does not have all the prerogatives of a fully fledged legislative body,” Ibrahima said.
She said strengthening the Parliament’s legislative and oversight functions would improve the credibility and legitimacy of ECOWAS institutions and enable lawmakers to contribute more effectively to regional decision making.
Ibrahima called for a stronger and more representative regional Parliament capable of responding to the needs of West African citizens while advancing the objectives of regional integration.
The Speaker also reaffirmed the Parliament’s commitment to representative democracy, human rights, peace and security, as well as reforms aimed at bringing ECOWAS institutions closer to citizens.
Nigeria’s Deputy President of the Senate and First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sen. Barau Jibrin, said Faye’s engagement with the regional legislature could strengthen interaction between the Parliament and the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Jibrin also called for sustained efforts to strengthen the Parliament’s role and deepen relations between ECOWAS institutions and citizens.
Responding, Faye commended the Parliament for its contribution to regional integration, particularly its role in monitoring Community policies, conflict prevention, mediation and the harmonisation of legislation.
The Senegalese president described the ECOWAS Parliament as the “Assembly of the Peoples,” saying it had an important role in promoting democracy, regional dialogue, political stability, peace and social cohesion.
Faye pledged his support for the Parliament in his capacity as chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and accepted an invitation to address lawmakers during a subsequent plenary session, where he is expected to present his vision and priorities for the region.
The push for stronger parliamentary powers is not new. Earlier this year, Nigerian lawmakers also called for amendments to the legal framework governing the ECOWAS Parliament, arguing that its largely advisory role limits its ability to hold regional institutions accountable and ensure implementation of its recommendations.
Under the existing framework, the ECOWAS Parliament is responsible for strengthening representative democracy, scrutinising Community activities, involving West African populations in the integration process and participating in the enactment of Community Acts in areas defined by the relevant legal framework. It can issue parliamentary opinions, give mandatory assent in specified areas and adopt resolutions.
However, some of its resolutions must pass through other ECOWAS institutions before they can become Community legal instruments. This institutional arrangement has fuelled calls for reforms that would give the Parliament greater authority over regional legislation and oversight.
The debate comes as ECOWAS faces challenges including insecurity, terrorism, political instability, migration, climate related displacement and economic pressures. Proponents of stronger parliamentary powers argue that a more empowered legislature could improve accountability and give citizens a stronger voice in regional decision making.
Strengthening the Parliament would also have implications for the broader integration agenda, as ECOWAS seeks to maintain cooperation among member states and ensure that regional policies translate into tangible benefits for the more than 400 million people across West Africa.
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