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ECOWAS Parliament: Speaker Ibrahima Call On Member States to Increase Funding

Published

2 years ago

August 13, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States Parliament, Rt. Honourable Memounatou Ibrahima, has charged member states to scale up funding to meet the multifaceted challenges for the institution.

Speaker Ibrahima stated this at the delocalized meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament Joint Committee on Administration, Budget, Finance, Public Account, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research ongoing in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Monday, with the theme: ‘‘The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament in Community Budget Formulation and Monitoring’’.

She acknowledged that the subregion was currently experiencing financial difficulties and dangers, which has threatened the execution and realisation of community projects and programmess that necessitated increased funding by member states.

She stated: “I want to seize the opportunity of our meeting to call on the member states to scale up their efforts to finance the community.

“The current context is marked by the global repercussions of recession and inflation, provoked by international tensions, and the security threats within the region.

“These limited financial resources are under the important financing needs of the community.

“As you know, the community budget is supplied at 85 per cent by the community levy, which is a 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods from countries that are not members. of the CDAO.

“Unfortunately, the last report on the state of the community presented by the President of the Commission revealed a weak mobilisation of its resources during these last years”.

According to Hon. Ibrahima, community raising is perfectly reflected in the solidarity and responsibility of its respective governments, which was aimed to build a prosperous and peaceful community environment.

The Speaker reiterated that the meeting represented not only an opportunity for collaboration but also a moment of reflection on the strategies that member states must adopt to respond to challenges in the subregion.

She further stated that the meeting is expected to address the role of the ECOWAS Parliament in the community’s budgetary process, especially against the backdrop of current challenges and realities.

“The goal is to allow the lawmakers to better understand the challenges related to the budget examination of the community in order to strengthen and consolidate the collaboration between the ECOWAS Parliament and other community institutions.

“I am convinced that our discussions on the role of ECOWAS in the elaboration and follow-up of the budget of the community will generate relevant analyses and solid recommendations to accelerate our resolution towards a community of fully integrated peoples.

“This will culminate in a peaceful and prosperous region with strong and respectful institutions of fundamental freedom working for a sustainable inclusive development.

“The index of regional integration in Africa measures to what extent the African countries in the north, the commitments they have taken in the context of various initiatives of pan-African integration, such as the African Union’s 2063 Agenda or the Abuja Treaty, relating to ECOWAS”, Ibrahima added.

The Speaker highlighted that Ivory Coast was the first high-performance ECOWAS member country based on certain dimensions of regional integration, namely: commercial integration, productive integration, and macroeconomic integration.

Speaking earlier, the Vice President of the Ivorian National Assembly, Diawara Mamadou, stated that the parliament plays an important role in the preparation of budgets both nationally and internationally.

He explained that for ECOWAS, where the Parliament plays a fundamental role in monitoring through budget preparation and oversight, it was pertinent for constituents to be informed on various actions regarding budgetary matters.

According to Mamadou, parliament is responsible for preparing and overseeing the execution of individual national budgets, so it is fundamental to understand how the community parliament examines and controls its budget.

“The general debate provides a platform for sharing experiences and developing proposals, enabling participants to enhance their capabilities and propose improvements to the existing mechanisms.

“I am therefore pleased that this relocated meeting in Abidjan addresses such an important subject as the budget,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Niali Kaba, Ivorian Minister of Economic Planning and Development, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Integration, Wautabouna Ouatarra, said the adoption of the ECOWAS budget marked a decisive turning point in the community’s annual life.

“While this budget outlines all the resources and expenditures planned for ECOWAS institutions for the year in a single document, it is primarily the financial translation of our region’s integration and development policy,” she said.

Chairman of the Joint Committee on Administration, Finance, Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in his remarks assured that parliament would ensure the judicious and transparently use of all funds.

Kalu who is also the Deputy Speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives, said this was only achievable through meaningful engagements with critical stakeholders like the ECOWAS Commission and the Administration and Finance Committee.

“The Parliament has a critical duty to ensure that public resources are utilised responsibly and for intended purposes by the Executives.

“As Representatives of the people of the region, we must champion the promotion and practice of transparency and accountability.

“In other words, ‘oversight’ is an indispensable parliamentary tool that should be effectively deployed to secure the accountability of the Executive to the Parliament and the citizens in general,” he said.

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Court Directs INEC to Recognise NDC’s Two-Finger Logo

Published

15 minutes ago

September 22, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) will soon be inaugurated as the party intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The party disclosed this in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director Esq., on September 21, 2026.

According to the statement, the NDC is currently consulting with relevant stakeholders to develop and inaugurate what it described as a robust Presidential Campaign Council.

The party said its Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and Vice-Presidential Candidate, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had held several meetings with the National Leader and leadership of the party as part of the process.

The NDC said Obi and Kwankwaso had been given the opportunity to nominate key officials of the campaign council in consultation with the party.

Those positions include the Director-General of the Campaign, Deputy Director-General (North), Campaign Spokesman, Deputy Spokesman, Head of New Media, Finance Director, Deputy Finance Director and other positions.

The party said the arrangement was designed to promote inclusiveness and cohesion within the campaign structure.

It added that a full organogram of the campaign structure had been developed since August and made available to Obi and Kwankwaso for their input, while nominations had also been received from other stakeholders across the country.

The NDC said it would announce and inaugurate the PCC after receiving the inputs of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

It also disclosed that a campaign timetable had been proposed since August, with arrangements for campaign funding and fundraising still being concluded.

According to the party, funds raised for the presidential campaign would be paid into the presidential campaign account and managed by officers nominated by the presidential candidate and his running mate alongside the party’s National Treasurer.

The party said the PCC inauguration, initially scheduled for the first week of September, was postponed because of the travel schedule of the presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, the NDC has directed its state and Local Government Area (LGA) chairmen to commence the compilation and harmonisation of party agents ahead of the 2027 elections.

The directive, according to the party, is in line with the Electoral Act, 2026, and requires state and LGA chairmen to meet with candidates and relevant stakeholders to produce comprehensive lists of agents.

The agents will be divided into two categories: those for National Assembly elections and those for governorship and State Assembly elections.

The party said the lists would be scrutinised and ratified by its leadership, including the presidential candidate and his running mate, before training commences.

The exercise is expected to be completed and the final lists submitted within two weeks of the directive.

The committee responsible for the appointment of party agents is chaired by the NDC Deputy National Chairman (South), Comrade Babatunde Alli. Vin Martin Ilo serves as secretary, while Dr Yunusa Tanko, Nafiu Dankura and the National Vice Chairmen of the six geopolitical zones are members.

The party also appealed to its candidates at all levels to discourage supporters and support groups from engaging in internal battles, urging them instead to concentrate on winning the elections.

“There are no battles to fight within the NDC,” the party stated, identifying the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as its common opponent.

The NDC said it remained committed to supporting its candidates and urged them to focus on winning elections, stressing that its candidates were contesting under the party and not as independent candidates.

The party expressed its desire for all its candidates to win their respective elections and called on members and supporters to remain focused on the 2027 electoral contest.

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Wike Hails First Lady Oluremi Tinubu At 66, Says “She’s a pillar of support for Nigerians”

Published

1 hour ago

September 22, 2026

Austin Ojomah

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has described the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a major pillar of support for President Bola Tinubu in particular and Nigerians, especially the vulnerable ones in general.

The FCT Minister, in a goodwill message to the First Lady on her 66th birthday, commended her for the transformation of the Abuja City Gate, saying “the roles the First Lady played in transforming the Abuja City Gate into how it is today, is a manifestation of her commitment to the success of her husband’s administration.”

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the Minister also hailed the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative, noting that it has brought succor to several vulnerable Nigerians in the last three years.

Wike said; “At 66, the simple way of life of the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, CON, has remained an inspiration to women in the country, and it is my prayer that God will continue to uphold her.

“Most importantly, this new age is a confirmation of God’s love for her, and I pray that the good Lord will continue to grant her good health.

“I celebrate and rejoice with our ever caring and development oriented First Lady on the attainment of this significant age in her life and wish her many more years of service to our country, Nigeria.”

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JAMB sacks staff member over extortion of candidates

Published

8 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Admin

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has sacked one of its staff members for allegedly extorting unsuspecting candidates.

The Board made this known on Monday in its bulletin, stating that the action was part of its renewed efforts to eliminate fraudulent practices within the admission and examination system.

According to JAMB, the sanction against the unnamed staff member showed that its fight against exploitation was not limited to external fraudsters but also applied to employees found abusing their positions.

“The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has terminated the appointment of one of its staff members for extorting unsuspecting candidates, in further demonstration of its renewed commitment to flushing out bad eggs from the system,” the board stated.

It further cautioned its employees against engaging in activities capable of undermining its credibility or exploiting candidates and members of the public.

The Board stressed that any staff members found guilty of misconduct would face severe consequences in line with established regulations.

“The Board noted that the action sends a clear and unequivocal message that its zero-tolerance policy on corruption and misconduct applies to everyone, irrespective of status or position,” it added.

The tertiary examination body reiterated that it would not shield any employee who abuses the trust placed in them by candidates or members of the public.