By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Joint Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research of the ECOWAS Parliament, has given hints on how to determine how best to achieve effective budget monitoring.
The Parliament therefore, noted that oversight function of the parliament is an indispensable parliamentary tool that should be effectively deployed to secure the accountability of the Executive to the Parliament and the citizens in general.
It further averred that as representatives of the people of the region, ECOWAS MPs must champion the promotion and practice of transparency and accountability. Speaking at the official opening of the delocalized meeting of ECOWAS Parliament in Côte d’Ivoire, the Co-chair of the Joint Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research of the ECOWAS
Parliament, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu said the Community Levy should be utilised to impact on every individual in the society, especially those on the lowest strata.
“Thus, in line with our Supplementary Act, Parliament is required to regularly carry out oversight functions over the activities of Programme implementing ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies and adopt appropriate Resolutions. In other words, ‘oversight’ is an indispensable
parliamentary tool that should be effectively deployed to secure the
accountability of the Executive to the Parliament and the citizens in general. The Parliament has a critical duty to ensure that public resources are utilised responsibly and for intended purposes, by the Executives.
“Today I find myself as one of the co-chairs who will be presiding over the
deliberations of the meeting of the Joint Committee. As a member of the ECOWAS Parliament and chairman of the Standing Committee on
Administration, Finance and Budget, please allow me to greatly thank the
Rt. Hon. Speaker and Bureau of the ECOWAS Parliament for selecting
Abidjan to host this all-important meeting,” he said.
He noted that the ongoing delocalized meeting is a veritable platform for the parliament to contribute, in their way, to the attainment of the desired economic
integration of ECOWAS region. Kalu noted that within the Parliament’s mandate and specifically under Articles 9 (1a) and 11 of the Supplementary Act A/SA.1/12/16 Relating to the Enhancement of the Powers of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mandatory Referral of the Community Budget and Parliament’s Opinion is required.
According to him, the objective of the Joint Committee meeting is to enable representatives to understand the ECOWAS Parliament’s role in the Community Budget Formulation and Monitoring, and to equip Members with the requisite knowledge and skills to ensure prudent management of
community resources.
This, he said can only be achieved through meaningful engagements with key stakeholders, especially, the ECOWAS Commission and the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC), which is a statutory technical committee under the supervision of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
Conceptualising the term budgeting, the Co-chair, stated that budgeting is the process of preparing and overseeing a financial document that estimates revenue and expenditure for a period, stressing that for institutions like ECOWAS budgeting is a key skill for ensuring Community institutions have the resources to execute programs, projects, and activities.
Speaking about the choice of the venue for the meeting, Kalu said: “As representatives, we consider Côte d’Ivoire a second home, due to the historical, cultural, and family ties that bound us. Our governments and people continue to enjoy good and fraternal
relations, and at a personal level, I always feel very comfortable and reassured anytime I am in this elegant country. Having said that, kindly permit me to welcome you all to the meeting of the Joint Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research of the ECOWAS Parliament, under the main theme: ‘‘The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament in Community Budget Formulation and Monitoring,’’ also, in the course of our discussions, we would address other topics associated with the theme.
“Our main host here in Abidjan is the National Assembly of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, and from the time we arrived, we have been treated to the most generous and warm welcome that only a family member could extend to one of its own. I am therefore honoured to convey our sincere appreciation to the Rt. Honourable Adama BICTOGO, Speaker of the Ivorian National Assembly for the support in the organization of this meeting, especially for the excellent arrangements made for a hitch-free Opening Ceremony”.
