NEWS
Stronger Parliament, Citizen Representation Vital to Regional Integration – Faye
Stronger Parliament, Citizen Representation Vital to Regional Integration – Faye
Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has identified a stronger regional Parliament and robust representation as critical to deepening integration and strengthening unity among West African countries.
Faye, who spoke during an official visit to the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, described the institution as the “hub of regional dialogue”.
ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, Mémounatou Ibrahima, said regional integration must move beyond being a project of governments and become a process driven by citizens.
Channel
First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Jibrin Barau, said regular interaction between the regional legislature and the Authority of Heads of State and Government would help translate the aspirations of West African citizens into concrete action.
October 06, () – Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has said a stronger ECOWAS Parliament and greater citizen representation are vital to advancing regional integration and strengthening unity across West Africa.
Faye stated this on Tuesday in Abuja when he paid an official visit to the ECOWAS Parliament, where he was received by the Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Hon. Mémounatou Ibrahima, and other senior officials of the regional legislative institution.
The Senegalese President described the ECOWAS Parliament as the “hub of regional dialogue”, stressing that it has an important role to play in strengthening institutional cooperation and ensuring citizen participation in the regional integration process.
He said his visit provided an opportunity to engage directly with the leadership and members of the Parliament while reaffirming his support for the institution and its role in advancing the objectives of the Community.
Faye said the Parliament remained an important forum for ensuring that citizens were involved in the integration process, assuring the lawmakers of his continued support and readiness to work with the institution.
He emphasised that regional integration should be pursued alongside concerted efforts to prevent conflicts, support mediation, raise public awareness and promote stability across the sub-region.
The ECOWAS Chairman also urged the staff of the Parliament to remain dedicated to their responsibilities and continue to serve the Community with greater commitment.
Integration Must Reach The Citizens
In her welcome address, Ibrahima described Faye’s presence in the parliamentary chamber as an important moment in the history of the institution.
She said Senegal’s longstanding tradition of dialogue, public debate and political participation resonated with the vocation of the ECOWAS Parliament.
According to her, regional integration must not remain merely a project of states and governments, but must become a process that directly involves citizens.
“Regional integration should not remain merely a project of States, but should become a work of citizens and for citizens,” she said
Ibrahima reaffirmed the Parliament’s commitment to representative democracy, human rights, peace and security, stressing the need to strengthen the institution’s legislative and oversight functions.
She said such measures would help build a stronger, more representative and more impactful Community Parliament capable of better reflecting the aspirations of the people of West Africa.
Barau Calls For Stronger Institutional Cooperation
First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate Jibrin Barau
Giving the vote of thanks, First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Jibrin Barau, expressed appreciation to Faye for the visit.
He described it as significant to the relationship between the regional legislature and the ECOWAS executive leadership.
Barau said regular interaction between the Authority of Heads of State and Government and the Parliament would strengthen collective efforts to translate the aspirations of citizens into concrete action.
He assured the ECOWAS Chairman of the Parliament’s full cooperation throughout his tenure, saying Faye’s presence demonstrated the importance he attached to dialogue among the institutions of the Community.
He said the visit also underscored the importance of Parliament in building an ECOWAS that was closer to its citizens.
“We greatly appreciated the attention you devoted to our institution, your institution,” Barau said.
According to him, the visit reinforced the Parliament’s conviction that regular interaction with the Authority of Heads of State and Government could strengthen the coherence of Community action, improve representation of citizens’ aspirations and deepen public ownership of the regional integration project.
He added that the engagement would encourage the Parliament to continue its reflection on the progressive strengthening of its role and on ways to establish closer ties between the institution and citizens across the Community.
Background
The ECOWAS Parliament is one of the institutions created to promote regional integration by providing a platform for dialogue and representation among the peoples of West Africa.
Beyond its parliamentary responsibilities, the institution serves as an avenue for lawmakers from member states to discuss issues affecting the Community, including democracy, governance, peace, security, and economic integration.
The renewed emphasis on the Parliament’s role comes against the backdrop of significant political and security challenges confronting the West African region, making dialogue, mediation and stronger regional institutions increasingly important.
Faye’s engagement with the Parliament therefore highlights the importance of closer cooperation between ECOWAS’ political leadership and its representative institutions, particularly in ensuring that regional policies reflect the concerns and aspirations of citizens.
The visit also reinforces calls for an integration process that goes beyond agreements among governments to create stronger connections between ECOWAS institutions and the people of the region.