By Linus Aleke, Abuja
The Community Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), otherwise known as ECOWAS Parliament, has announced plan to lobby Federal Government (FG), over the commencement of constructions on the permanent site of the ECOWAS parliament.
The First Deputy Speaker, Senator Jibrin Barau, pledged to intervene through the federal government to provide the required funds for the project to take off.
Sen. Barau, made this promise, while, playing host to the first female Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, who led her team on a courtesy visit to the First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, and Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Sen Jibrin Barau, in his office at the National Assembly, Abuja.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau said, “On the issue of the parliament building, the Secretary General informed me that a certain amount has been earmarked. So, I took it upon myself that I will intervene to ensure that money was made available for the project to start. I have gotten the support of the Senate President. So, we are working with the Senate President to make sure that money is available for the project to start”.
Senator Barau, while welcoming the new speaker and her entourage, expressed delight over the visit and congratulated her on her emergence as the Speaker of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament.
He told the Speaker that he had prepared the ground for her, when he acted as the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament between April 4th and May 23rd this year.
Nothing that they will continue to support her to take the parliament to the next level to address the challenges facing the subregion, Senator Barau, said: “Once again, I want to congratulate you on your election as the Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament. Based on your track records and history, you are well-suited for the job. We hope you are going to do your best to make sure that the parliament is taken to the next level. I held forth for you before your election. And as an acting speaker then, I did very well to prepare the ground for you to make sure everything goes fine. I am glad that you are hitting the ground running without wasting time. The election occurred about ten days ago, but now you are in Abuja. This is a demonstration of the wonderful things that you are bringing to the parliament by the grace of God”.
Responding, the Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament thanked the Deputy President of the Senate for the warm reception.
“I thank the First Deputy Speaker for the warm reception not only in Abuja but also in Kano during the second Extraordinary Session. I am glad to be here because this is a form of courtesy visit that we are embarking on. I also appreciate your commitment to ensuring that the headquarters of the ECOWAS parliament takes off soon,” she said.
The Speaker, was accompanied during visit by the fourth Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Billay Tunkara and the management staff of the sub regional assembly.
