Ekweremadu: ECOWAS Parliament's Adoption of Supplementary Act Our Greatest Achievement
Today, the Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said the adoption of the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the ECOWAS Parliament by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, was the greatest achievement of the 3rd Legislature of ECOWAS Parliament under his watch.
He disclosed this while delivering his valedictory speech at the inauguration of the 4th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.
He called on authority concern to speedily have the Act signed into Law.
“By far, the most important objective and success recorded by the Third Legislature of the Community Parliament remains the adoption of the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the ECOWAS Parliament by the community decision Making bodies.
“It is important to note that the Supplementary Act enjoyed the inputs of all necessary organs and institutions of the community. On its part, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government adopted the Act during its 46th Ordinary Session in Abuja on December 15, 2014” Ekweremadu said.
He regretted was that the Act was not signed into law during his tenure, noting that it was “gratifying that we brought this age long quest from nothing to a point where this institution is just signatures away from evolving into a true Parliament.
“From the European Union Parliament to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), which is a year younger than the ECOWAS Parliament, it is normal for regional parliaments to exercise legislative powers and carry out other fundamental functions of a parliament such as oversight function.
“For emphasis, today, the ECOWAS Parliament regrettably remains the only regional parliament anywhere in the world without legislative powers. This should be a big embarrassment and reproach to us as a sub-region.
“It is common knowledge that true democratic governance rests on the tripod of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. The enhancement of powers is not for competition, but for the good governance of ECOWAS.
"It is to build strong institutions necessary for running a balanced and transparent ECOWAS. Importantly, it was the vision of our founding fathers to give expression to voices, challenges, and aspirations of the peoples of West Arica in a true and vibrant Parliament.”
Ekweremadu listed other major achievements of tenure as the Speaker of the parliament to include the bequeathing of a befitting parliamentary complex, as well as handing over of a grant of about N1bn for the construction of an office complex.
He urged the new leadership to ensure that the grant was strictly used for the purpose for which it was received.
Other efforts at repositioning the Parliament, according to him, included ensuring that the 115 seats of the Community Parliament was fully occupied for the first time with the coming of Cote d’Ivoire and rejoining by Guinea; elaborate capacity building for parliament; creation of visibility and awareness for the Parliament, and revival of the Conference of the Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of West Africa.
He stressed that the Third Legislature built elaborate and beneficial partnership with other regional and international legislative bodies, and also launched the ECOWAS Parliament into the realm of parliamentary diplomacy for the economic development, peace, and security of the sub-region.
In a related development, the ECOWAS Parliament has elected its new Speaker, Hon. Moustapha Cisse Lo of the Republic of Senegal.
Today, the Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu said the adoption of the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the ECOWAS Parliament by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, was the greatest achievement of the 3rd Legislature of ECOWAS Parliament under his watch.
He disclosed this while delivering his valedictory speech at the inauguration of the 4th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.
He called on authority concern to speedily have the Act signed into Law.
“By far, the most important objective and success recorded by the Third Legislature of the Community Parliament remains the adoption of the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of the ECOWAS Parliament by the community decision Making bodies.
“It is important to note that the Supplementary Act enjoyed the inputs of all necessary organs and institutions of the community. On its part, ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government adopted the Act during its 46th Ordinary Session in Abuja on December 15, 2014” Ekweremadu said.
He regretted was that the Act was not signed into law during his tenure, noting that it was “gratifying that we brought this age long quest from nothing to a point where this institution is just signatures away from evolving into a true Parliament.
“From the European Union Parliament to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), which is a year younger than the ECOWAS Parliament, it is normal for regional parliaments to exercise legislative powers and carry out other fundamental functions of a parliament such as oversight function.
“For emphasis, today, the ECOWAS Parliament regrettably remains the only regional parliament anywhere in the world without legislative powers. This should be a big embarrassment and reproach to us as a sub-region.
“It is common knowledge that true democratic governance rests on the tripod of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. The enhancement of powers is not for competition, but for the good governance of ECOWAS.
"It is to build strong institutions necessary for running a balanced and transparent ECOWAS. Importantly, it was the vision of our founding fathers to give expression to voices, challenges, and aspirations of the peoples of West Arica in a true and vibrant Parliament.”
Ekweremadu listed other major achievements of tenure as the Speaker of the parliament to include the bequeathing of a befitting parliamentary complex, as well as handing over of a grant of about N1bn for the construction of an office complex.
He urged the new leadership to ensure that the grant was strictly used for the purpose for which it was received.
Other efforts at repositioning the Parliament, according to him, included ensuring that the 115 seats of the Community Parliament was fully occupied for the first time with the coming of Cote d’Ivoire and rejoining by Guinea; elaborate capacity building for parliament; creation of visibility and awareness for the Parliament, and revival of the Conference of the Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of West Africa.
He stressed that the Third Legislature built elaborate and beneficial partnership with other regional and international legislative bodies, and also launched the ECOWAS Parliament into the realm of parliamentary diplomacy for the economic development, peace, and security of the sub-region.
In a related development, the ECOWAS Parliament has elected its new Speaker, Hon. Moustapha Cisse Lo of the Republic of Senegal.
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