The Speaker of the National Assembly of The Gambia, Fabakary Tombong Jatta has joined the agitation to have members of ECOWAS Parliament elected through universal adult suffrage by citizens of Member States.
The Speaker of the Gambian National Assembly who stated this at the ongoing 2022 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja Nigeria, added that this would ensure that the Community Parliament assume its legislative functions and perform effectively oversight of ECOWAS institutions and hold them accountable.
Under Article 18 of the Additional Act of December 2016 on the Strengthening of the Prerogatives of Parliament, the 115 members of the Community Assembly are to be elected by direct universal suffrage by the citizens of the Member States.
While waiting for this system to take effect, the National Assemblies of the Member States or the institutions or equivalent bodies elect/select members of the Community Parliament from within themselves at the moment.
Aware of the important role that an elected parliament plays in facilitating people’s participation in regional governance, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, made the election of members of the Community Parliament by direct universal suffrage his political flagship program.
The Speaker of The Gambaian National Assembly is the latest, among many, to have thrown their weight behind the call since the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament; Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis made the election of the Community lawmakers as his flagship programme.
Mr. Jatta who described the Community Parliament as one that can engender the agenda of ECOWAS of the People, added that for the Parliament to deliver this reality to the ECOWAS Community it must have the powers necessary to become an effective community institution.
“For this Parliament to assume Legislative functions and perform effective oversight on ECOWAS Institutions and hold them accountable; its membership must be elected through universal adult suffrage by citizens of Member States.”
“I therefore urge that much effort be directed into making this a reality. “
The Speaker said believes that Community Parliament is better situated and strategically positioned to deliver unity, peace, security, and prosperity to our sub-region.
Mr. Jatta pledged the support of the Gambian National Assembly to the Community Parliament in achieving it parliamentary duties in the region.
“In your strive to achieve these goals, be rest assured that the National Assembly of the Gambia will be a reliable partner,” according to Honorable Jatta.
Speaker Jatta, a former member of the ECOWAS Parliament and a member of the National Assembly in The Gambia for 20 years, informed the Community Parliament that in the last six years The Gambia conducted two Presidential and two Parliamentary elections, all of which were peaceful, free, and fair.
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