Economic Community of West African States Parliament is stepping up

diplomatic efforts to prevent Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from leaving the

regional bloc.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu,

confirmed that parliamentary diplomacy mechanisms are being deployed to

engage the three nations, and stressed the importance of unity within

ECOWAS.

He spoke, with newsmen in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on the sidelines of a

meeting of the parliament’s Joint Committee on Administration, Finance,

Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, of

which he is Chairman and assured that letters had been sent to the

governments of the concerned nations, and visits by parliamentary

representatives would soon follow.

He expressed confidence that dialogue would lead to their reintegration into

the regional body, adding that, even in a worst-case scenario where the three

countries proceed with their exit, ECOWAS’s financial stability would not be at

risk, and also highlighted the organization’s multiple revenue streams,

including the Community Levy and contributions from development

agencies.

Kalu also said, in addition to addressing the potential exits, the ECOWAS

Parliament is pushing for reforms to strengthen legislative independence,

adding that, the laws governing ECOWAS need updating to reflect the

changing political landscape, while, the proposed amendments would bolster

the separation of powers and enhance the credibility of the institution on the

international stage.