ECOWAS Parliament Acting Speaker Jibrin Urges Collaboration for Regional Objectives

Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President and newly elected ECOWAS Parliament First Deputy Speaker, Senator Barau Jibrin, has called upon newly inaugurated members to collaborate in achieving the objectives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Jibrin, who has assumed the role of Acting Speaker of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, emphasized the importance of unity and commitment in working towards a prosperous and peaceful West Africa.

During the closing of the inaugural session held in Abuja on Saturday evening, Jibrin highlighted the significance of collective efforts in meeting the challenges faced by the subregional bloc.

He urged the parliament members to be resolute in their mission to uphold peace and prosperity for the people of West Africa.

“Our responsibilities are heavy, and we must be aware of them and remain totally faithful to our commitments.

That’s why we need to work together with intelligence, rigor, and determination to meet the major challenges that lie ahead,” Jibrin said.

The Acting ECOWAS Speaker also expressed solidarity with the Togolese delegation, whose absence during the inaugural session resulted in the postponement of the election of a new Speaker, as per the Parliament’s Supplementary Act.

Jibrin assured that the Parliament would provide full support to ensure the inauguration of the Togolese Representatives, which would pave the way for the election of a new Speaker.

Jibrin commended the application of the Doctrine of Necessity to restore order and uphold the sanctity of ECOWAS.

He emphasized that this action marked the beginning of a united Parliament that would speak with one voice in the interest of the Community.

Furthermore, the Acting Speaker extended gratitude to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, and ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Toure, for their leadership and support.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Parliament’s sitting on Saturday also witnessed the adoption of the report of an Ad-hoc Selection Committee, which established fourteen Standing Committees.

As the ECOWAS Parliament embarks on a new chapter under the leadership of Acting Speaker Jibrin, the call for collaboration and commitment to regional objectives sets a positive tone for the Sixth Legislature.

The coming months will be crucial in assessing the effectiveness of these efforts in addressing the challenges faced by the West African subregion.