By: Kebba AF Touray
The ECOWAS Parliament will elect a new Speaker during its second extraordinary session currently taking place in Kano State, in the North of Nigeria.
Due to the rotational nature of the position of Speaker for member states, the delegation from Togo should be sworn in before the end of the 2024 extraordinary session.
The Togolese delegation is expected at the session after the conclusion of their parliamentary elections, with the names of their representatives sent to the Community Parliament.
Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who is also the first Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, was elected as acting Speaker of the Sixth Legislature.
In order not to create a vacuum, Barau as the first Deputy Speaker, has been acting as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament pending the arrival and swearing-in of the Togolese delegation.
While gearing up for the Extra Ordinary Session in Kano, the Community Parliament had its conference of bureau meeting virtually with Chairpersons and rapporteurs of various committees, to discuss the work plan for the year which will be brought to the plenary for general discussion and adoption.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Acting Speaker Barau said the extraordinary session in Kano was to bring the community closer to the grassroots to help them feel the impact of the community parliament.
Senator Barau said, “The Parliament needs to know the people they are serving at the grassroots level.”
He said the session will allow parliamentarians to deliberate on issues that touch on the lives and livelihoods of the people and said guests including VIPs, will be there in attendance.
Senator Jibrin disclosed that the representatives from Togo will be attending the session later in the week and will hopefully be sworn in on Thursday.
“During this meeting, the entire members of the Assembly will be in attendance. When we have a parliament, everything concerning the entire community will be discussed. Everything about the society, the economy, about ECOWAS and the West African sub-region, will be discussed,” he said.
He described Kano as the centre of commerce of entire northern Nigeria, adding that it is the political capital and political nerve centre in the whole of northern Nigeria and that is why the session is held there.
