News

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

Published

3 months ago

August 13, 2024

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.

News

Brazilian Wanted For Coup Attempt Arrested

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Argentinian police on Thursday arrested a Brazilian, Joelton Gusmao de Oliveira who was declared wanted over attempted coup last year in support of former far-right leader, Jair Bolsonaro.

The police statement also said Brazil had previously issued a warrant for his “arrest and detention” for extradition.

Forty-seven-year-old Oliveira was arrested in Argentina’s La Plata, 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Buenos Aires, according to a police statement

A Brazilian court had in February handed Oliveira a 17-year prison sentence in absentia for the attempted coup and armed criminal association.

Thousands of pro-Bolsonaro activists invaded the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court on January 8, 2023, demanding the intervention of the armed forces to depose the newly elected left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Brazilian news site UOL said Oliveira was a refugee arrested while trying to renew his papers.

In October, the Argentine government amended the law preventing foreigners charged or convicted over “serious crimes” from being granted refugee status.

News

Miss South Africa Pulls Out From Miss Universe Over Health Issues

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Mia Le Roux, who was recently crowned Miss South Africa 2024, has announced her withdrawal from the Miss Universe competition because of health issues.

This was contained in a statement released on Friday by the Miss South Africa Organisation, Le Roux expressed gratitude for the support she has received from South Africans, describing the decision to step back as “incredibly challenging” but necessary to focus on her health.

“I am profoundly thankful for the unwavering support from South Africa during my time at Miss Universe. Making this decision has been incredibly challenging, knowing the dreams and hopes that have been placed upon me.

“However, I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to focus on my health and recovery so that I may continue to serve my country with full strength,” she said.

The Miss South Africa Organisation also expressed its support, emphasising Le Roux’s resilience and prioritising her health.

“Mia has shown incredible courage and grace throughout this difficult period,” the organisation stated.

“Her health and well-being are our utmost priority, and we stand by her side, dedicated to ensuring she regains her strength and returns to full health,” it added.

News

London Russian TV Chef Found Dead In Belgrade Hotel

Published

2 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A Russian TV chef who ran a restaurant in central London has been found dead in Serbia.

Alexei Zimin, 52, was an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Crimea in 2014. He had spent his final years exiled in the UK.

The 52-year-old ran a cookery show on the Russian NTV channel, which was axed after he posted anti-war messages on social media following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Serbian authorities told the BBC there were “no suspicious circumstances” related to his death and that an autopsy and toxicology report were ongoing.

Mr Zimin was found dead in a hotel room in Belgrade, according to reports in Russian media.

He had travelled to the Serbian capital to promote his new book about Britain Anglomania.

[/b]Katerina Ternovskaya, co-owner of the restaurant where Zimin had presented his book and prepared food, said people were “in shock” adding that “the last time we have seen him, he was smiling and in a great mood”[/b].

The diner was wonderful and Alexei was very happy,” she said.

Mr Zimin’s restaurant in London, Zima, confirmed the chef’s death on Instagram.

For us, Alexei was not only a colleague, he was our friend, a close person with whom we were lucky to go through a lot – both good, kind and sad,” the restaurant said.

Thank you to everyone for the words we [have received] today about Alexei. We are hurting together with you.

“The entire Zima team expresses condolences to Alexei’s family and mourns together with them.”

Written in Russian, Anglomania covers how “modern ideas about democracy, freedom of speech, human rights, capitalism with an inhuman face and socialism with a human face, science, literature, Christmas turkey and afternoon tea” originate from the UK, according to Mr Zimin’s website.

In May 2022, he told the BBC his restaurant had been targeted with abuse and arson threats after Russia’s invasion.
“My partners thought about changing the name,” he said.