5th ECOWAS legislature opens in Niamey
Niamey, Niger (PANA) - The fifth legislature of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament opened on Monday at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre in Niamey under the chairmanship of Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou.
President Issoufou is current Chair of the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government.
New lawmakers of the Community Parliament were sworn in before the ECOWAS Chair who also endorsed the decision to hand over the post of Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament to Sierra Leone.
Scheduled to take five days, this session will elect a new president of the sub-regional parliamentary institution as well as a new bureau, in addition to tidying up the regulatory texts governing the functioning of the institution.
The ECOWAS Parliament is a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus for representatives of the peoples of West Africa with a view to promoting integration.
Composed of 115 parliamentarians from all member countries of the regional grouping, it has its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. It was created in 2006.
The ECOWAS Parliament is empowered to consider issues relating to human rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens, the interconnection of energy networks, interconnection of communication links between member states, the interconnection of telecommunication systems, increased cooperation in the field of radio, television and other links with community media.
Parliament may also be consulted on matters relating to public health policies for the Community, the common education policy through harmonisation of systems and specialisation of existing universities, the adjustment of education within the Community to international standards, youth and sport, scientific and technological research and Community policy on the environment.
Other areas to be considered include all matters affecting the Community, in particular as regards the revision of the ECOWAS Treaty, citizenship and social integration.
-0- PANA SA/BEH/MTA/AR 9Mar2020
