ECOPARL NEWSLETTER (opening ceremony)

No 11/2018 PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT. MAY 10—30 2018

2018 First ECOWAS Parliament Session opens in Abuja The 2018 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament opened Thursday, May 10 in Abuja with a call by the Speaker, H.E. Honorable Moustapha Cisse Lo on ECOWAS Member States and other international organizations to team up to defeat insurgency in the sub region.

The Speaker who made the call in his opening address at the Session lamented that sub region was being held hostage by bandits who have caused a lot of harm urging that all hands should be on deck to wipe out the menace.

“We are surrounded by bandits and we need to work to fight them to save our region from their hands”, he stated.

While welcoming the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. JeanClaude Kassi Brou, the Speaker called on MPs to accord maximum cooperation to the Commission, describing Brou as “a man of immersed in value, knowledge and experience”.

Cont on pg 5…...

2018 First ECOWAS Parliament Session opens in Abuja………………………...1 Speaker assures Morocco of ECOWAS Parliaments’ cooperation………………………………………………………………………….……………………...…...2 Cisse Lo shores up parliamentary support for new ECOWAS Commission President………………………………………..……………………………………..…….…..…..3 Morocco Reiterates Interest To Join ECOWAS……………………………...……….3 Nigeria has not changed its stance on Morocco – Deputy Speaker………..4 Tips for being an effective legislator………….……………………………………..…..6 Parliament to mark 2018 ECOWAS Day May 28…………………………....……..7 New ECOWAS Commission Boss pledges support, collaboration with Parliament……………………………………………...……………………………………...……9 Speaker Cisse Lo charges Press Corps on visible reporting of Parliament…………………………………………………………………………………...……………...10

Speaker Cisse Lo(back roll), Pres. of ECOWAS Commission H.E. Jean Claude Kassi Brou (M), flanked by Hon. Rachid El Abdi, Deputy Speaker Hs. of Rep. Kingdom of Morocco(R) & Mr. John Azumah, SG Ecoparl (L)

Commission’s President Brou hails Buhari, Nigeria for support to Community……………………………………….………………..……………………..……………...11 Pictorials……………………………………………………………………………….…………….12

Speaker assures Morocco of ECOWAS Parliaments’ cooperation As part of the resolve to ensure full implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation between Moroccan Parliament and the ECOWAS Parliament, Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo has assured that the agreement will be respected by the regional parliament.

Speaker Cisse Lo gave this assurance while welcoming the two Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, H. E Rachid El Abdi and Amina Maelainine to the 2018 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

He lauded the “excellent ties of friendship and cooperation” between the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco and the ECOWAS Parliament, saying “we shall continue the cooperation agreement we have signed with Morocco”.

The Speaker also thanked the Speaker of the Moroccan Parliament for the interest he has shown in the ECOWAS Parliament adding that “on behalf of the Community representation, I wish to express my gratitude to you for your gesture of fraternity and solidarity”.

The Speaker also disclosed in his opening address that he had visited the Moroccan Parliament at the invitation of the Speaker of the Parliament and took part in a colloquium on the theme “towards an improved movement of persons and goods between African countries”.

He said within the same framework of cooperation, the 4th Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Orlando Preira Diaz (Cape Verde), accompanied by Souleymane Ndoye (Senegal) undertook an ECOWAS Parliamentary mission from 24th to 26th April, 2018 to Morocco.

While addressing the Opening Session, the leader of the Moroccan delegation and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Mr. Rachid El Abdi revealed that currently in Africa, Morocco represents the most engaged on the continent.

He said the interest of Morocco in ECOWAS was predicated on the history shared and marked from mutual engagement, solidarity and cooperation, adding that the “Moroccan approach to Africans was based on principle and mutual respect and fruitful cooperation”.

The Deputy Speaker explained that for the benefit of development and prosperity of the continent, King Mohammed VI has embarked on a number of visits across the continent, signing many agreements since he came to the throne.

Cisse Lo shores up parliamentary support for new ECOWAS Commission President Members of the ECOWAS PARLIAMENT have been enjoined to accord maximum cooperation to the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou in order for him to succeed.

This call was from Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo, who in describing Mr. Brou as “a man immersed in value, knowledge and experience”, urged his colleagues to recognize and support him and his Commissioners in their new roles in the service of the Community. He informed that “the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, during the 52nd Summit of the Organization held on December 16, 2017 in Abuja, appointed a new President of the ECOWAS Commission in the person of His Excellency, Dr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou from Cote d’Ivoire.

Speaker Cisse Lo, who made this request while addressing the opening session of the 2018 First Ordinary Session of the Parliament in Abuja, assured the new President that the MPs were ready to work with him for the benefit of the ECOWAS Community.

“Mr. President, I want to assure you of our full support. You can count on the support of all the MPs. We shall speak with one voice. We will cooperate with all other components of the ECOWAS so that we can build a community for our people”, said the Speaker.

He disclosed that in the course of the Session, in accordance with the Supplementary Act enhancing the powers of the ECOWAS Parliament, the MPs would hear from the President on the strategic plan of the Commission and on the state of the Community in general.

He also informed that the Parliament will meet with new commissioners at the interactive sessions with the Standing Committees of the Parliament in order to harmonize the cooperation and collaboration mechanisms in the implementation of the Community programs.

Morocco Reiterates Interest To Join ECOWAS Morocco has reiterated its interest to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the opening ceremony of the first Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

Addressing ECOWAS Members of Parliament in Plenary, Deputy Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representative, Hon. Rachid El Abdi, described Morocco as a country committed to Africa.

He further said Morocco employs a win-win situation and mutual respect in its approach with other countries, noting that regional integration is fundamental and an underlying tool for development.

Hon. Abdi said in efforts to deepen regional integration Morocco has expressed interest to join the ECOWAS where it has played an observer role for some years. Addressing the media at the close of the opening ceremony, Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo said the legislature will consider the matter of Morocco’s interest to join ECOWAS in the ongoing session, as an agenda item in its work programme.

Cont in pg 7………..

Nigeria Has Not Changed Its Stance On Morocco – Deputy Speaker, Lasun As Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo drums up sup- December 2017 decided to set up a Committee port for Morocco's bid to join the ECOWAS , his of Heads of States to review a study on the imfirst Deputy, Hon. Suleiman Lasun(Nigeria) has plications of Morocco’s membership. stated that Nigeria as a Member State of ECOWAS has not yet changed its stance on the issue.

During a media interview blitz at the opening session of the Parliament’s First Ordinary Session, First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Yusuf Lasun who is also the head of the Nigerian 35-member delegation to the Parliament, said the issue of Morocco’s admittance into the Community extends beyond politics to the economics.

“Everything is not about politics, of more importance is that a government that refuses to think about the economic aspect of life is doomed. We have not changed our stance and that is why it will probably take a long while before such a feat can be achieved,” said Lasun.

However, Speaker, Cisse Lo, at the opening ceremony of the first ordinary session of Parliament, stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy to the unity and prosperity of Africa. He further commended Parliament’s relations with Morocco’s House of Representatives, whose Deputy Speakers, Hons. Rachid El Abdi and Amina Maelainine were in attendance at the session’s opening.

Hon. El Abdi while speaking at the event had reiterated Morocco’s interest to join ECOWAS citing regional integration as the fundamental and underlying tool for development.

With Morocco’s continued interest in joining the Community, the Authority of Heads of State and Government in its 52nd Ordinary Session in

Source: istockphoto.com

Cont from pg 1………

He assured the new President that the MPs were ready to work with him for the benefit of the ECOWAS Community. “Mr. President, I want to assure you of our full support.

You can count on the support of all the MPs. We shall speak with one voice. We will cooperate with all other components of the ECOWAS so that we can build a community for our people” As part of the resolve to ensure full implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation between Moroccan Parliament and the ECOWAS Parliament, Speaker Cisse Lo also assured that the agreement will be respected by the regional parliament.

He lauded the “excellent ties of friendship and cooperation” between the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco and the ECOWAS Parliament saying “we shall continue the cooperation agreement we have signed with Morocco”.

The new President of the ECOWAS Community, Dr. Jean-Claude Brou, in his remarks pledged the support of the commission to the ECOWAS Parliament.

In his maiden address to the Parliament, the newly elected President assured of the readiness of all other ECOWAS institutions to cooperate with the parliament to actualize their goals.

With particular reference to the enhanced powers of the Parliament, headed by H.E. Moustapha Cisse Lo, Brou said that the Supplementary Act had paved a way for better collaboration between the Parliament and the Commission.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support to the ECOWAS Community; as well as the Federal Republic of Nigeria for being so receptive and accommodating to the community.

“I wish to commend our fathers who deemed it fit under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993 to establish the community parliament so our citizens can have a voice in regional integration,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the Speaker of the Parliament H.E. Moustapha Cisse Lo for his leadership in conducting the agenda of ECOWAS Parliament. “Under you, important progress has been achieved and I would like to thank you for that.

He assured the parliament of his support especially as it relates to its new enhanced powers contained in the Supplementary Act. The First Ordinary Session will end on May 30.

TIPS FOR BEING AN EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR Honour the Institution

Take the High Road

Try to appeal to the best instincts of Understanding legislative etiquette and ethical the electorate, talk about what you responsibilities is vital, not only to the institustand for and what you intend to do tion and your constituents, but to yourself. during your time in office, then work as hard as you can to fulfill those promis-

Master the Rules

es. . To work well, government requires

a bond of trust between citizens and Play volleyball or tennis without knowing the their representatives. Tearing down rules? You’ll lose. The same goes for legislat-

government diminishes your ability to ing. You need to know the rules. It’s a good solve problems in the legislature. Re- idea to carry them around with you to read as member why you ran for office—to you see the process unfold.

make a difference, a difference for the better.

Know Where to Get Help

Get acquainted with staff members, not only legislative staff but key people in the governor’s office and cabinet offices. Look for expertise among members on both sides of the aisle. Turn to them for advice and counsel. Lobbyists also can serve as resources, but be sure to ask for information on all sides of an issue. Trust legislative staff. When you have the opportunity to hire them, surround yourself with the most intelligent, dedicated staff you can find.

Manage Your Time It’s the effective legislator’s creed: Organize, prioritize, commit to those things you consider important. If you can do this, you’ll be ahead of the pack. An effective legislator is punctual: Get to the floor on time, get to your appointments on time, get to your committee meetings on time. It’s the little things that trip you up—like deadlines. If you miss a bill filing, it could be a whole year before you can try again. If you’re late in filing campaign contributions—or don’t file at all—you might read about it in the paper or see it in your next opponent’s campaign brochure. So attend to the housekeeping chores.

Source: National Conference of state Legislature

Parliament to mark 2018 ECOWAS Day May 28 The ECOWAS Parliament is set to commemorate the ECOWAS day come May 28, 2018.

This was disclosed by the Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo, during his remark at the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 2018 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

According to the Speaker, the celebration is usually aimed at highlighting the continuous strength and benefits of regional integration, the promotion of economic trade, and growth as well as development throughout West Africa States, despite the challenges being faced

by Member States.

The Speaker noted that the region’s cultural, linguistic and ecological diversities present both opportunities and challenges for the integration process. He opined therefore that the longing to combine forces politically and economically has always been recognized as a step forward in the desire to engender co-prosperity in the region, hence, the need to celebrate the progress thus far registered in the sub-regional integration aspirations as well as the bond of brotherhood it fosters.

Reacting to the announcement by the Speaker, Hon. Mao Ohabunwa (Nigeria) a ranking Member of the Parliament, advised that Parliament liaises with the ECOWAS Commission for a unified celebration activities on the ECOWAS Day. Members of Parliament were unanimous in embracing the announcement for the commemoration of the day officially designated to mark the Founding of the ECOWAS. Cont from pg 3………...

Emphasizing the need for parliamentary diplomacy, Speaker Cisse Lo said for Africa to be united and prosperous, countries must partner with neighboring countries, as is the case of the ECOWAS Parliament’s relations with Morocco’s House of Representatives.

Resulting from that relationship, the Speaker disclosed that it includes an MoU for capacity building of staff and Members of ECOWAS Parliament.

He further added that the session will dialogue on Morocco’s reiteration of interest to join the West African Community “when parliamentarians are free to give their sentiments on the matter”.

Hon. Rachid El Abdi, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Kingdom of Morocco in a media chat on the opening of the 2018 First Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

Mps from Carbo Verde

Nigeria Police Force band entertains MPs and Guests on the day 1 of the 2018 First Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament

Honourables, Mohammed Lafiaji & Dickson Tarkighir (Nigeria), in a chit chat

MPs from Cote d'Ivoire

Nigerian MPs

New ECOWAS Commission Boss pledges support, collaboration with Parliament The new President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), H. E. Jean-Claude Brou, has pledged the support of the Commission towards the ECOWAS Parliament.

In his maiden address to the Parliament, the newly appointed President assured of the readiness of all other ECOWAS Institutions to cooperate with the Parliament to actualize their goals.

With particular reference to the enhanced powers of the Parliament, Mr. Brou stated that the Supplementary Act had paved a way for better collaboration between the Parliament and the Commission.

“This Supplementary Act constitutes an appropriate framework for efficient and effective collaboration between Parliament and all other ECOWAS institutions.

I would also like to stress the need to strive to make our parliament a key institution for monitoring adherence of our Member States’ commitments to the integration process.

“For my part, I want to assure you that my team and I and all other ECOWAS institutions stand ready to work simultaneously and closely with ECOWAS Parliament for fruitful cooperation in the shared interest of our Community,” he stated.

He expressed his enthusiasm to come back to the Parliament in the coming days, to present the State of the Community to Members of Parliament in Plenary.

For the Commission President, the presentation would be an opportunity to review progresses, accomplishments and challenges in recent years.

President of ECOWAS Commission, H. E Jean-Claude Brou

“Let me conclude today, at the opening of this 2018 First Ordinary Session of the Fourth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, by assuring your great assembly of the unflinching support of all the Commissioners and I, to jointly and collectively drive forward the regional integration process,” he reiterated.

Parliament Mourns MP Mustapha Bukka The Parliament has mourned its late Member, Sen. Mustapha Bukar, who died on April 4th at the age of 63, after a brief illness, by an observation of a minute of solemn silence, in honor of their deceased colleague and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.

Mustapha Bukar was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and represented the Nigerian Senatorial District of President Muhammadu Buhari. Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo who presided over the symbolic minute of silence, also mourned the demise of one of the long-standing freelance language Interpreters of the Parliament.

Reports reaching the ECOWAS Parliament from the deceased elder brother, Alhaji Kanta Bukar confirmed the death of the Member of Parliament by the early hours of Wednesday, 4 th April at the Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja.

Sen. Mustapha was survived by two wives and 12 children, including Dr Ibrahim Bukar of the Nigerian Communications Commission. He was buried immediately according to Islamic rites.

According to a biographical sketch published by the Nigerian National Assembly, Sen. Bukar finished his primary education in Daura in 1968, and thereafter went to Government Secondary School, Katsina. He graduated in 1973.

He also attended School of Basic Studies in Zaria(1975), from where he gained admission to read Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University.

He graduated with a Bachelors in 1978.

After his National Youth Service, he worked as project manager for the Kaduna State Water Board and later as general manager.

He retired in 2008 as director of Katsina State Water Board.

Speaker Cisse Lo Charges Press Corps on Visible Reporting of Parliament ECOWAS Parliament's Press Corps has been charged with the responsibility to foster Parliament's institutional visibility through its relentless media reports on interventions that push the integration agenda of the sub-region. Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo made this charge wh ile addressing the Press at a Press Conference at the seat of Parliament in Abuja to mark the opening of the statutory 1st Ordinary Session of 2018.

Responding to a question on ‘what the ECOWAS Parliament is doing to ensure that the interests of the Community citizens are well represented’, Speaker stated that according to the Primus inter pares of ECOWAS Parliament, ‘the issue of the visibility of ECOWAS Parliament is very much important to us,’ ‘I believe that it is rather the Press that should popularize what we (Parliament) are doing….”.

Speaker Cisse Lo, reiterated to the Press that the Fourth Legislature’s flagship program is to give visibility to the activities of the Parliament through the program of delocalised meetings. “We do organize Extra-Ordinary Sessions and seminars outside Abuja (the Seat of Parliament), so as to ensure the visibility of the Parliament” the Speaker stated.

The First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Hon. Sulaimon Yussuf Lasun (Nigeria), had earlier acknowledged that the Parliament is the most direct people oriented arm of government, and that the citizens of the Community are entitled to good representation, as they – Members of Parliament, are responsible to them.

Commission’s President Brou hails Buhari, Nigeria for support to Community The President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), H. E. Jean-Claude Brou has commended President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for his unflinching support to the ECOWAS Community.

Brou who addressed the First Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2018, also hailed the Federal Republic of Nigeria for being so receptive and accommodating of the Community.

In his first address to Parliament, Mr. Brou expressed his delight at addressing a Parliament of Representatives who have played key roles in upholding democracy in their countries.

“As the new President of ECOWAS Commission, today marks my first address to all of you honorable Members of this August Assembly”, he remarked.

He added, “Let me use this opportunity to pay credit to H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his government and the people for the hospitality they provide to all ECOWAS institutions in Nigeria and the support given to all regional affairs. I would like to express our most gratitude for the leadership of President Buhari in shaping the development agenda in our region.

H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President of ECOWAS Jean-Claude

“Let me use this opportunity to pay credit to H.E. Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his government and the people for the hospitality they provide to all ECOWAS institutions in Nigeria and the support given to all regional affairs.

“Allow me to pay tribute to H.E Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe, President of the Togolese Republic and current chair of the the Authority of Heads of State and Government, for the quality of the conduct of the affairs of our region’, he further stated.

“I wish to commend our fathers who deemed it fit under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993 to establish the Community Parliament so our citizens can have a voice in regional integration,” he said.

Mr Brou also paid tribute to the Speaker of Parliament, H.E. Moustapha Cisse Lo, for his leadership in conducting the agenda of the ECOWAS Parliament.

“Under you, important progress has been achieved and I would like to thank you for that.”

He assured the Parliament of his support especially as it relates to its new enhanced power contained in the Supplementary Act.

(L)1st Deputy Speaker ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff (Nigeria); (L) 2nd Deputy Speaker Ecoparl, Hon. Aminata Toungara (Cote d'Ivoire)

(R)Hon. Amina Maelainine & Hon. Rachid El Abdi (M) Deputy Speakers House of Representatives, Kingdom of Morocco in a chat with a Moroccan envoy in Abuja.

(R)Hon. Kaboubie Sakande (Burkina Faso), & (L)Hon. Halima Mamane (Niger)

1st Deputy Speaker ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff(L); 2nd Deputy Speaker Ecoparl, Hon. Aminata Toungara(M) & Hon. Prince Yormie

4th Deputy Speaker ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Orlando Pereira Dias (L) & Hon. Amina Maelainine, Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Kingdom of Morocco(R)

A cross section of MPs during Plenary

Arrival of guests for the opening of the First Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament

From right, Hon. Satu Camara Pinto(Guinea Bissau);

Invited Guests at the opening of the First Ordinary Session

Foreign Guest observers at the Ecoparl Chambers, during the opening day of the First Ord. Session of the Parliament

Guest Moroccan diplomats at the ECOWAS Parliament's Hallow Chamber

Hon. MPs of ECOWAS Parliament

EDITORIAL TEAM

Publisher: Moustapha Cisse Lo (Hon. Speaker) Editor in Chief: John Azumah (Secretary General) Editor: Uchenna Duru (Ag. Chief Communication Officer) CONTRIBUTORS/AD HOC STAFF

Ifeanyi Nwoko: Contributing sub editor Phillip Nyam: Contributing sub editor Ifeanyi Adewale Valentine: Writer Maimuna Mohammed: Writer Adedeji Mapaderun: Graphics Kelvin Nwachukwu: Social Media

Augusta Anazodo : Administration Zainab Musa Ogsji: Administartion Facebook Studio: Photography

PUBLISHED BY THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION, ECOWAS Parliament. Herbert Macaulay Way, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria. www.parl.ecowas.int www.facebook/ecowasparliament Twitter: @ECOWASParliamnt