By Omonu YG Nelson
Abuja, Nigeria – The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, has called for regional solidarity and self-reliance in order to address the challenges facing the region.
In a speech at the opening of the 2nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2023, Tunis said that the region’s prosperity and security are inextricably linked to our shared responsibility to look out for one another.
“Only a foolish neighbor goes to bed when his neighbor’s roof is on fire,” Tunis said. “In a region of interconnected threats and challenges, we can only address our issues effectively through broad, deep, and sustained cooperation among States.”
Tunis also called for greater self-reliance from ECOWAS member states. He said that the region cannot rely on outside help to solve its problems.
“We need to be more self-reliant,” Tunis said. “Each Member State must take on more responsibility for the development and advancement of the ECOWAS region.”
Tunis’ speech comes at a time when the ECOWAS region is facing a number of challenges, including the political situation in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite these challenges, Tunis said that he is confident that the ECOWAS region is on the right track. He pointed to the recent successful Presidential and Legislative elections in the Republic of Liberia as a sign of progress.
“The people of Liberia have shown us that democracy is possible in our region,” Tunis said. “We can all learn from their example.”
Tunis also praised the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for its leadership in sustaining peace and security in the West African region.
“The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has played a vital role in maintaining peace and security in our region,” Tunis said. “I am confident that, with the mechanisms and institutions in place to prevent and manage conflicts, advance peace and development and foster trade and regional integration, we are on track to achieving our goal of becoming a model of regional cooperation and integration, not just in Africa, but around the world.”
In retrospect, the ECOWAS Parliament, also known as the Community Parliament, is one of the Institutions of ECOWAS. It is the Assembly of Peoples of the Community serving as a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus for Representatives of the people of West Africa with the aim of promoting integration. It was established under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993.
The initial Protocol establishing the Parliament was signed in Abuja on August 6, 1994. It provided for the Structure, Composition, Competence and other matters relating to the Parliament. The Parliament is composed of one hundred and fifteen (115) seats. Each Member State shall have a guaranteed minimum of five (5) seats. The remaining forty (40) seats shall be shared on the basis of population.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria was ably represented by the Deputy Senate President of the Nigerian Senate, Jibril Barau.