Lawmakers on the ECOWAS Parliament's Public Accounts Committee will soon hold open hearings on audit findings. Osita Izunaso, the committee's First Rapporteur, made this known after a training workshop.
The three-day capacity-building session wrapped up in Accra last week. Committee members attended despite the venue being away from Parliament's main office.
Izunaso explained that timing for the first public hearing depends on one thing. He said it hinges on when the Auditor-General formally presents audit reports to the committee.
During the workshop, lawmakers studied how oversight works in other regional bodies. They examined systems used by the East African Legislative Assembly and the Pan-African Parliament.
Only the European Parliament has complete institutional independence, Izunaso observed. "Our enforcement powers are limited," he told reporters at the training venue.
According to him, the committee wants to expand its influence in the region. One key strategy is conducting oversight activities and staging public hearings on audits.
Audit work sometimes involves delicate matters, Izunaso noted with caution. Auditors may wish to remain unnamed when they uncover wrongdoing, he said.
This reality makes it crucial to finalize audit reports properly first. Rushing into hearings without complete documentation could create problems for everyone involved.
Izunaso confirmed the committee plans to meet regularly going forward. The group is preparing itself for increased oversight work across the ECOWAS region.
