The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Moustapha Cisse, on Wednesday welcomed the release of 82 Nigerian schoolgirls after three years in Boko Haram captivity.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the 2017 Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, Cisse said: “ I am convinced that with the same spirit and commitment, the Nigerian Government will succeed in restoring freedom to the remaining girls still held by the Boko Haram”.
Over 250 female students of the Government Secondary School Chibok, a town in Borno, North-East Nigeria were kidnapped by the terrorist group on April 14, 2014.
Cisse also commended the efforts of the Nigerian Government in combating Boko Haram insurgence in the country, adding that the fight against terrorism was now the priority in the programme of governments in the sub region.
“ The mobilisation of our defence and security forces for any event bringing our citizens together has become imperative.
“The proof of this is the securing of the presidential election in France, which required the use of more than 50,000 security agents under a state of emergency,’’He said.
Cisse prayed for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari, to enable him continue to serve the nation and deliver on his campaign promises.
He expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Government for donating the sum of N900 million to the parliament for the construction of its headquarters in addition to equipping it.
“While reiterating our appreciation to the Government and people of Nigeria, I would like to inform you and reassure public opinion that the said capital remains intact and can be verified’’.
He added that the process of finalising the allocation of the land for the building of the headquarters was ongoing, saying that the money would not be used for any other thing.
The speaker congratulated Mr Emmanuel Macron, the France President-elect for his landslide victory at the election and expressed hope that he would change the face of France relation with its intentional partners.
He also congratulated Mrs Mariam Denton, who was recently elected as Speaker of the Gambian National Assembly and that country`s new parliamentarians who took oath of office at the session.
Cisse told the parliamentarians that the parliament`s Chairman on the Committee on Legal and Judicial Affairs Sawadogo Salifou had been released from prison.
According to him, Salifou who was granted bail pending his trial, was imprisoned in Burkina Faso following the waiver of his parliamentary immunity.
He, however, stressed that member states had a great role to play in ensuring the desired regional integration.
Cisse said that despite high cost of living and economy challenges facing member states, the lobbying for payment and repayment of community levy contributions was beginning to bear fruit.
He, however, noted that; “still pending is the thorny problem of the transfer of the sums collected into ECOWAS accounts’’.
The speaker added that the parliament`s efforts to monitor the implementation of community text had made it possible to raise the rate of ratification to an acceptable level.
“Moreover, our efforts must be redoubled to give our communities the legality they need for their harmonious functioning,’’ he said.
He stressed the need for good governance and accountability in the management of the community parliament in the region.
The ECOWAS Parliament is a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus for representatives of West Africa states with the aim of promoting integration.
It was established under Article 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993.
He charged Speakers of National Assemblies present at the session to convey the parliament`s gratitude to their respective Heads of States.
The Protocol relating to the Parliament was signed in Abuja on Aug. 6, 1994 and became effective in March 14, 2002.
It provides for the structure, composition, competence and other matters relating to the parliament.(NAN)
EEM/SH