Faye: ECOWAS Parliament Central To Regional Integration
The success of West African integration depends not only on decisions by governments but also on giving citizens a stronger voice in the regional project, Senegalese President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has said.
Faye made the assertion on Tuesday during an official visit to the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, where he described the legislature as the “hub of regional dialogue” and a key platform for institutional cooperation and citizen participation.
He reaffirmed his support for the Parliament, stressing its role in advancing the objectives of the Community through representation, conflict prevention, mediation, public awareness and efforts to promote regional stability.
Faye also urged staff of the Parliament to remain committed to serving the Community with dedication.
Speaker of the Parliament, Rt Hon. Mémounatou Ibrahima, while welcoming the ECOWAS Chairman, said his presence marked an important moment for the institution, noting that Senegal’s tradition of dialogue, public debate and political participation aligned with the Parliament’s mandate.
She said regional integration must move beyond being a project of states to become “a work of citizens and for citizens”, while calling for stronger legislative and oversight functions.
The First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Jibrin Barau, in his remarks, said closer interaction between the regional Parliament and the Authority of Heads of State would help translate citizens’ aspirations into concrete action.
Barau assured Faye of the Parliament’s cooperation and said the visit underscored the importance of dialogue among ECOWAS institutions.
Join Our WhatsApp Community
