ECOWAS Parliament seeks $3.6m to bridge financial deficit
The ECOWAS Parliament has sought approximately $3.6 million from development partners to meet up with its financial needs and facilitate effective implementation of Sub-Regional Programmes.
The Fourth Legislature of the parliament stated this in its Strategy and Concept Document presented at its justconcluded 2017 Donors’ Conference in Abuja.
According to the conference, the parliament needs about 6.6 million dollars to efficiently carry out its programmes, from 2018 to the end of its tenure in 2020.
It also said that the organisation had three million dollars but not sufficient to carry out its planned programmes, following the enhancement of its legislative responsibilities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Authority of Heads of State and Government had in 2016 adopted the Supplementary Act granting new powers to the parliament.
Under the Act, the parliament moved from being an advisory body to having enhanced competencies.
These include; the enactment of all community laws and the adoption of the community budget, the mandate to investigate, mediate and propose uniform laws and the powers of oversight.
The parliament, in its document, said given its improved mandate it would have to plan and implement more activities within and outside the subregion.
“In the meantime, the parliament derives its revenue from the Community Levy which is equal to 0.5 per cent of the duties payable on goods imported from non-ECOWAS countries.
“However, the levy is insufficient for the implementation of the activities on the community institutions and agencies including ECOWAS Parliament.
“This had had adverse effect in the recruitment and retention of qualified manpower.”
“Thus, human, technical and financial resources at the disposal of the parliament are not sufficient for effective oversight of all envisaged programmes and activities.”
The meeting said stated that the major aim of the donors’ conference was to promote ECOWAS Vision 2020, the 2030 Agenda on the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063. (NAN)