Janet Samuel, Abuja
The First Deputy Speaker of the 6th Legislature of the Economic Community of West Africa states (ECOWAS) Hon Jibrin Barau has urged the parliamentarians to be dedicated and committed in their passion to unite the West African region
The 1st Deputy speaker from Nigeria who is also serving in acting capacity as the speaker of 6th Legislature made the appeal in his closing remarks at the inaugural session in Abuja
He said the Community will be counting on Members of the Parliament for quality representation, effective presence, passion, dedication, and commitment to achieving the objective of making the region an ECOWAS of peoples where peace and prosperity reign for all.
Senator Barau said: “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, rigour, and determination to meet the major challenges that lie ahead.
“As you can see, Honourable Members, the mission we have been assigned is enormous but very exciting because it involves putting ourselves at the service of the community to ensure its prosperity and emergence.
The acting speaker, also used the opportunity to explained how the doctrine of necessity restored order to the regional parliament.
He recalled that an integral part of the events that should have characterized the inaugural session of the Parliament, which was the election of the Speaker, did not happen due to the absence of the Togolese delegation who, by virtue of the Supplementary Act, should assume the speakership of the 6th Legislature.
Barau expressed solidarity with the Togolese delegation, pledged the full support of thebParliament in insuring that their Representatives are inaugurated as soon as possible, which will ultimately lead to the election of new Speaker.
“Nevertheless, I extol the wisdom of this house and the processes that led to the election of the Four Honourable Deputy Speakers. The application of the Doctrine of Necessity was necessary to restore order to this house and uphold the sanctity of our cherished institution,” Barau said.
Senator Barau also thanked all the Members of the Community Parliament for supporting the process to the fullest.
Senator Barau further congratulated the selection committee, which worked hard to establish fourteen standing committees that were concise and balanced in language, gender, and nationality.
He said,“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, rigour, and determination to meet the major challenges that lie ahead,” Barau stated.
The Parliament adopted recommendations by its committee on selection on setting up of 14 standing committees, bordering on agriculture, health, security among others have 56 postions to be filled to guarantee the balance in languages, gender and nationality
The selection committee, which has Honorable Melvin Snowe Junior, of Liberia, as chair, had proposed to the Bureau of Parliament to uphold draft rules of procedure on the distribution and composition of the standing committees.
The parliament, however, stepped down on adoption of the report of the adhoc committee on Drafting the Rules of procedure for the sixth legislature opting to continue with rules of the fifth Legislature pending when they have scrutinised and agreed on the draft.
Some Nigeria parliamentarians including Senator Osita Izunaso who was also appointed a member of the adhoc committee on rules formulation, and Honourable Aniekan Bassey, a representative, pledged to promote unity and integration within the sub-region especially in light of concerns raised by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger about exiting the community of ECOWAS.
