Presiding over the opening ceremony, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament Moustapha Cisse Lo has said the second Ordinary Session, also known as the budget session, is an important milestone for 2019.
The session, which runs from 20th November to 14th December 2019, is tasked with consideration of the draft Consolidated budget of the Community for the 2020 fiscal year.
Speaker Lo also noted that it is during this budget session that focus will be placed on the choice of priorities for programs and concerns of the Community, while paying special attention to balancing of the financial account.
He equally mentioned that as part of the institutional reform of ECOWAS, it is necessary to position the parliament as a model to emulate when it comes to good management and governance.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony was Madam Halima Ahmed, Commissioner of Finance who proxy for the president of the ECOWAS Commission Jean-Claude Kassi Brou.
Madam Ahmed pointed out that members of the Commission are a testimony of the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Additional Act on ‘Strengthening the powers of ECOWAS PARLIAMENT’ which was adopted on 17 December 2016 by the 50th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
She recalled that these new powers were acquired as a result of close collaboration, coordination, harmonization and synergy between the parliament and the ECOWAS Commission.
Other speakers at the event were the President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
The Liberian delegation attending the 2nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja is headed by Representative Edwin Snowe and comprises Senator Prince Johnson-3rd Deputy Speaker, Senator Steve Zargo, Representative Clarence Massaquoi and Representative Haja Fata Siryon.
Meanwhile, Senator Steve Zargo will travel this week to Guinea Bissau, as member of the ECOWAS Parliament delegation on the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to observe that country’s upcoming elections.
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