The Senate has commended the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) for strengthening the powers of community parliament in line with international best practices.
This followed a motion by Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, on “Enhancement of the Powers of the Parliament of the Economic Community for West African States” on the floor of the house on Wednesday.
He said that ECOWAS was established to foster economic and political cooperation of the peoples of West Africa.
According to him, ECOWAS Parliament was established by Article 13 of the 1993 Revised Treaty of the Community as the representatives of the people of West Africa.
Ekweremadu said that the enhancement of the powers of the parliament was a major achievement toward democratisation of governance of the sub-regional body.
He said that the development would also promote the fine principles of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balance.
He, however, called for the amendment of Nigeria’s Electoral Act to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct election to fill the nation’s 35 seats at the Community Parliament.
Contributing, Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Bala Na’Allah, said that the development would further enhance and give authority to the parliament to perform its functions without hindrance.
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that enhancing the powers of the community parliament was a major achievement in the sub-region.
“We should take advantage of this to ensure we work for the actualisation of regional integration,” he said.(NAN)