President Bola Tinubu has charged the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS, to work towards achieving unity and coercion for opportunity and prosperity in the region.
President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Governance, underscored this need, at the inaugural session of the sixth legislature of ECOWAS Parliament, in Abuja.
He said profound challenges confronting the bloc demands unified efforts to resolve.
Affirming the important role of the ECOWAS Parliament in the bloc’s journey towards a future of peace and prosperity for all, President Tinubu said success cannot be achieved without the loyal contribution and hard work of the community’s legislative agency.
“Furthermore, to realize the ECOWAS ‘Vision 2050’, we require greater involvement of the people in the decision-making processes of the community. That can only be achieved through their duly-elected representatives who, being members of their national parliaments, are seconded to the community parliament. We are here, collectively, to serve all the good and great people of West Africa.
The President assured of his support in the proposal for the direct election of members into the parliament, noting that the move would give citizens of member states a say in who represents them.
Similarly the Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for unity among ECOWAS member states, urging the lawmakers to use the parliament to build the bridges of unity and progress.
” We have worked tirelessly to address the challenges facing our region. From economic challenges, inequality,to security threats and such innovative resolutions to foster sustainable development and prosperity for all. However let us not rest on our oars,” he said.
He tasked the bloc to consolidate on the successes of their predecessors to forge a path towards a more inclusive, equitable and prosperous future for all.
He stressed the need for the deepening of regional integration enhancement of trade and investment as well as promotion of the free movement of goods, services and people within the region.
Earlier, President of the ECOWAS Commission Omar Touray urged the newly inaugurated members of the parliament to live up to their responsibilities, while assuring of the Commission’s support in achieving their mandate.
97 representatives from various member states, were sworn-in as lawmakers of the sixth legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament.
