Tag: ECOWAS

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament and a senator, representing Nigeria’s Ondo South Senatorial District, has advised ECOWAS leaders to follow a collaborative strategy and stop over-trading their state’s sovereignty.

He disclosed this in Lomé, Togo, during the ECOWAS Parliament.

According to Ibrahim, no state worldwide, including the United States of America, has absolute sovereignty, adding that “Having absolute sovereignty means having absolute control over your internal jurisdiction.”

The Ondo South senator stated, “As simple as an e-mail passing through your country, you do not have control over it! You cannot determine which e-mail would pass through your jurisdiction and which one should not, thereby trading sovereignty may not only be detrimental to development but also undermine hunger and state security potentially disastrously.”

He, however, said a collaborative strategy could lead to a more prosperous and secure future for the region, instilling hope and optimism in the collective efforts of the region.

Ibrahim urged the leaders to embrace a collaborative strategy and praised ECOWAS President Bola Tinubu for the cooperative role of his presidency of the regional organization.

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Representing Nigeria in the ECOWAS Parliament, Ibrahim highlighted the positive impact of ECOWAS since its establishment, emphasizing the parliament’s role in assisting the executive in charting a path forward.

“A stabilized ECOWAS holds significant importance for human security integrity and poverty reduction in the region and the geocentric system,” he said.

Ibrahim emphasized that ECOWAS, as a regional organization, is a result of collaboration and cooperation aimed at fostering democratic peace.

He underscored the significance of adhering to ECOWAS agreements, a commitment that should make members of the regional group feel responsible and dedicated to the region’s development.

Ibrahim, however, expressed concern over the withdrawal of some ECOWAS member states, stating that such action reflects over-trading sovereignty and is unwarranted.

While stating that no country could prosper in isolation, Ibrahim suggested that ECOWAS’s oversight function requires enhancement, advising leaders to blend the global economic landscape with their shared identity to collectively seek support on issues related to colonialism and compensation for climate change due to emissions like carbon dioxide and methane from activities such as car usage or coal consumption for heating purposes.

Ibrahim attributed primary responsibility for car production and greenhouse gas emissions to developed nations like the US, Britain, France, Japan, and China.

He noted that these daily occurrences lead to severe health risks and increased poverty in the West Africa sub-region.

Ibrahim holds the position of Chairman of the Interparliamentary Worldwide of the Nigerian Senate.

The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has  proposed a budget of UA 23, 371, 350 for 2025.  

This is as the Parliament also called for a speedy and adequate implementation of the 2025 preliminary draft budget.

The legislators made the call during the consideration and adoption of the draft budget report presented to the Plenary by the Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget at the ongoing   2024 Third Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament( 6th Legislature)  presided over by Second Deputy Speaker, Hon. Adjaratu Traore in Lome, Togo.

Vice Chairman of the Committee Ibrahima Sall from Senegal, said that the preliminary draft of the 2025 budget of the Parliament balanced both in terms of revenue and expenditure stands at UA 23, 371, 350 representing an increase of UA 155, 356 or 0.6% compared to the 2024 budget, which amounted to UA 23, 215, 994.  

Out of this projected revenue of UA23, 371, 350 for the 2025 fiscal year, the sum of UA23, 359, 589, or 99.95%, will be funded from the Community Levy proceeds, while UA11, 761 or 0.05% will be derived from other sources.

The budget, ECOPARL said is in line with the Community Strategic Framework (CSF).

A breakdown of the 2025 estimated expenditure indicates that the governing bodies will take UA128, 695 representing 0.55%; Administrative Expenses will take UA 8,019, 635 representing 34%; Programmes take the lion’s share of UA15, 122,908, representing 64.71%; while Contingency will take UA100, 122 which represents 0.43%.

The 2025 draft budget of the parliament was prepared based on the guidelines contained in the 2025-2027 budget circular issued to the community institutions by the President of the ECOWAS Commission Dr. Omar Alieu Touray.

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The Commission has set four strategic objectives to provide strategic orientation for the Community institutions over their four-year mandate. The four strategic areas include: Enhanced Regional Peace and Security; Deeper Regional Integration; Good Governance as well as inclusive and Sustainable Development.

Speaking during the plenary, Ibrahima Sall, who represented the chair of the Committee, Hon Benjamin Kalu, said that “we have flagship activities for 2025 given the political and social situation of the sub region. We need to commit enough resources to address the challenges facing the sub region.”

He however, urged defaulting member countries to update their payment of the community levy to mobilize funds for the operations of the regional bloc.

Also speaking during the plenary, Hon. Edwin Snowe from Liberia noted that it has become incumbent on members to ensure a speedy and detailed implementation of the Parliament budget. 

He urged the Bureau to expedite action   on the remittances of the levy and set up a “mechanism to ensure compliance.”

Hon. Veronica Cessay from Sierra Leone called on the Parliament to commit resources to promote projects and programmes for women and girls through the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA).

Hon. Cessay, who is also the ECOFEPA President called on defaulting member countries to pay up their community levy.

In a related development, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina (Sierra Leone) said the “Community Levy is the life-support of the Parliament,” even as he expressed worries that countries still renege in their commitment to the community levy.  He urged the parliament’s Bureau to put more pressure even some sanctions on the defaulting members.

According to committee report the 2025-2027 budget must comply with ECOWAS Council of Ministers Directive in allocating at least 65% for the progamme budget and at most 35% for administrative expenses.  

Furthermore, the draft budget of each institution, department and agency shall remain the same as the 2024 approved budget with exceptions of peace and security, humanitarian interventions, health, and special community.

A member of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Parliament has called for the full implementation of the 30% women representation at the regional body as enacted in the Supplementary Act on Enhancement of the Powers

The call is coming ahead of the symposium of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) on Wednesday, October 2.

The Nigerian parliamentarian, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo made the call on the sidelines of the ongoing Third Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament (Sixth Legislature) in Lome, Togo.

Harry-Banigo stressed the need for the regional body to mount pressure or sanction member states that failed to comply with the Act.

The Act requires each Member State to ensure that at least 30% of its parliamentary delegation is composed of women.

She said: “Each of the countries sends a list of representatives from their various parliaments to the ECOWAS Parliament and it is mandatory that 30% of the nominations from the national parliaments must be women,” adding that the list from member states must include the youth and people with disabilities.

“We have gone further to say that if there is any national parliament that violates this requirement, there should be sanctions. Any country that sends a list that does not comply with the provisions will be sent back.

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“But the issue is that most of these national parliaments don’t even have that number of women and that is going to be an issue.

“We are advocating for more women to join parliaments in their various countries because they have a lot to bring to the table and we believe that with greater advocacy, awareness, and with the cooperation of various stakeholders, there will be more women into parliamentary positions in the ECOWAS Parliament.”

During this year’s ECOFEPA symposium with the theme “Empowering Women through Financial Inclusion,” the Parliamentarians hope to address challenges women face in accessing financial services aimed at unlocking women’s potential and driving regional development.

ECOFEPA was established in 2003 and inaugurated in March 2010. It comprises all female parliamentarians from the 15 ECOWAS Member States and provides a platform for these parliamentarians to unite and discuss issues affecting them as women and politicians.

The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament) has decried the decreasing remittances of the community levy by some member countries of the regional bloc.

 The concern was expressed at the closing ceremony of the two-day induction session for members of the ECOWAS Parliament, presided over by the Speaker of the parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, in Lome Togo as part of the ongoing 2024 Third Extraordinary Session of the 6th Legislature.

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The Director of Finance and Administration of the ECOWAS Parliament (DAF)  Anna Jagne, had described 2024 as the worst year in recent history in terms of the compliance by some member countries of  ECOWAS on remittances of the levy.

This, Jagne said, has serious implications on the operations of the regional bloc.

Article 40 of the Financial Regulations of ECOWAS outlines the Community Levy as the principal source of revenue for the Community. The levy is a 0.5% tax imposed on goods from non-ECOWAS Member States. It constitutes between 70 and 90% of the ECOWAS budget.

The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament) has decried the decreasing remittances of the community levy by some member countries of the regional bloc.

The concern was expressed at the closing ceremony of the two-day induction session for members of the ECOWAS Parliament, presided over by the Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, in Lome Togo as part of the ongoing 2024 Third Extraordinary Session of the 6th Legislature.

The Director of Finance and Administration of the ECOWAS Parliament (DAF), Anna Jagne, described 2024 as the worst year in recent history in terms of the compliance by some member countries of ECOWAS on remittances of the levy.

This, Jagne said has serious implications for the operations of the regional bloc.

Article 40 of the Financial Regulations of ECOWAS outlines the Community Levy as the principal source of revenue for the Community. The levy is a 0.5% tax imposed on goods from non-ECOWAS Member States. It constitutes between 70 and 90% of the ECOWAS budget.

A Nigerian Member of Parliament, Awaji Abiante, attributed the difficulty in remitting the levy by some West African countries to the dwindling economic fortunes of the states and paucity of funds amid pressing domestic needs.

He said: “The issue of community levy is a direct relationship to the state of our economies. It is only when you have enough that the purchasing power will increase. But if you have an economy that is heading south; of course everything will head south.

“And some member states might now begin to find challenging needs for whatever resources they have, making it difficult for appropriate and timely releases and remittances even when they have collected because there are other more exigent demands on them.

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“So the best approach on issues of this nature will be to continually strengthen our economic base in the region.  But as long as our economies are moving southwards, contributing to the purse will be challenging and the demand for funds will keep on increasing.”

His The Gambia counterpart, Darbo Alhagie, said that more pressure should be mounted on countries that defaulted in payment.

“We need to know those that have defaulted and ensure that at the level of parliament, we can encourage our countries to pay the levy otherwise the implication will be dire on the operations of the Community.”

 “If countries are not paying their levy, it is going to affect the operations of the Parliament and other   ECOWAS institutions in general,” he said.

Declaring the induction session closed, the Speaker, Memounatou Ibrahima, said the session was a milestone in the history of the ECOWAS institutions.

 “This session has deepened the knowledge of the functions and roles of ECOWAS institutions, the members of parliament, and their privileges. We are the custodians of the aspirations of our people. These resources are a treasure for the work of the ECOWAS institutions and I express my sincere appreciation for your active participation and your deep reflections,” she said.