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Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has on Wednesday advocated the need to appoint an Adhoc Mediation Committee to prevail on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
This move became pertinent to reconcile the three states to the regional blocs.
The Acting Speaker of the Parliament, Barau Jibrin, who is also the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, said the machinery has been constituted for the task.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso had in January this year announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
The junta-led countries had been suspended from the regional bloc for coup d’état and were urged to return to democratic rule.
Jibrin, speaking at the opening of 2024 Second Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament in Kano State, noted that there is no alternative to a strong united regional bloc.
He said: “I will, in consultation with my colleagues on the Bureau, be proposing the appointment of an Ad hoc Mediation Committee whose mandate will be to work with all stakeholders in getting our brothers to rescind their decision and come home and work towards promoting dialogue with a view to resolving conflicts in the region. It’s no doubt that we are stronger and there is absolutely no alternative to our collective aspirations of a united, peaceful and secure ECOWAS.
”As the Parliament looks towards facilitating the promotion of democracy, checks and balances, as well as accountability in the ECOWAS Community, having a strong ECOWAS Parliament is indispensable. I have had the esteemed honour of leading this Parliament for barely two months and I have concluded that much needs to be done in terms of asserting the independence of the Parliament in the exercise of its important roles of parliamentary oversight and representation.
“There is, also, a compelling need to build strong collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and undertake joint initiatives aimed at strengthening regional security and advancing development. While it is true that each institution has its unique prerogatives, the fact remains that there exist cross-cutting issues that are best addressed with enhanced collaboration among the community institutions.”
In his address the Kano state Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, emphasized the need to tackle the citizenship issues among ECOWAS member countries, regional security, integration, environmental and natural resources challenges, and higher education, employment, poverty, and democratic volatility.
Five parliamentarians were sworn as members of the regional parliament at the opening of the session by the acting speaker of the parliament, Senator Jibrin.
The ceremony was attended by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, the Emir Karaye, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar II and Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim.
