By Gloria Ikibah
The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved a consolidated budget of 418,062,927 Units of Account (UA) for 2025.
The decision was finalized during the Parliament’s Bureau meeting held in Abuja.
This budget is expected to fund the ECOWAS Commission, Parliament, agencies, and special projects, with a significant focus on peace and security initiatives.
As part of the budget adjustments, the allocation for the West African Health Organization (WAHO) was increased by 4.21%, bringing its total to 71,596,777 UA. Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Parliament’s budget saw a reduction of 19.5%, now amounting to 18,696,897 UA.
Beyond financial deliberations, the Parliament expressed concern about the scheduled withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS, set for January 29, 2025.
The legislative body has urged for an extension of the withdrawal deadline to allow for further negotiations, even as it emphasised the importance of maintaining regional unity and preventing the fragmentation of West Africa’s economic and political framework.
During the meeting in Abuja, the ECOWAS Parliament also reviewed ten Community Acts referred by the ECOWAS Commission, to address key areas such as energy, transportation, and education.
In addition, the Bureau held an interactive session with the Programme for Women’s Political Participation in Africa, which focused on strategies to enhance female representation in governance across the sub-region.