…as PAC strengthen audit monitoring,accountability mechanisms across regional institutions
By Gloria Ikibah
Members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the ECOWAS Parliament have concluded a three-day capacity-building workshop in Accra, Ghana, designed to enhance their ability to scrutinise public spending and strengthen accountability across institutions of the regional bloc. 
The training programme focused on improving lawmakers’ understanding of oversight responsibilities, particularly in monitoring expenditure by the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Parliament and the Community Court of Justice.
Speaking after the workshop, the Committee’s First Rapporteur, Senator Osita Izunaso from Nigeria, described the exercise as highly beneficial, saying it had provided participants with practical knowledge to perform their duties more effectively.
“This capacity building has helped us to carry out our legislative oversight duties more effectively,” he said.
According to him, the committee had in the past struggled to fully discharge some of its responsibilities due to limited understanding of its mandate and operational procedures.
“Members did not fully understand their roles or what they were supposed to do,” Izunaso explained.
Over the course of the training, participants examined audit-tracking mechanisms and explored ways of strengthening collaboration with other parliamentary committees responsible for administration, finance and budget matters.
“Today we looked at the recommendations of the tracking system, how we can track the audit, and we examined our job as it relates to the administration, finance, and budget committee. We reviewed both our mandate and theirs to ensure there is no friction,” he added.
He noted that discussions also highlighted some of the challenges confronting the committee, particularly regarding the scope of its authority within the ECOWAS Parliament.
The workshop forms part of broader efforts by the regional legislature to improve transparency, accountability and institutional effectiveness across ECOWAS bodies, while equipping lawmakers with the tools needed to strengthen financial oversight and ensure prudent management of community resources.
