The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers has been charged to focus on fairness and inclusivity in the allocation of statutory positions across member states, rather than relying solely on the parameters of equitable distribution.
This, according to officials, is to ensure that all members are involved in a shared vision for the future.
The charge was made in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, at the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers on recruitment and the status of staff from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) countries.
The Council’s meeting aims to discuss the allocation of statutory positions to member states, as well as the recruitment and status of staff from AES countries.
Speaking at the session, the Chair of the Council of Ministers, Musa Timothy Kabba, who is also Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, emphasised that the selection process for statutory positions serves as a crucial barometer for gauging institutional credibility and should be guided by fairness and regional solidarity.
“This platform fosters our regional solidarity, which is why we all continue to demonstrate our commitment to each call to action by our community. As we deliberate, our focus should not only be on equitable distribution of statutory positions among member states but also on ensuring fairness and inclusivity so that everyone is engaged in a shared vision for the future. Our decisions must be grounded in due process, transparency, equity, and aligned with our broader regional commitments, as building blocks to guarantee economic integration, regional peace and security, and our democratic values as a community.” He stressed.
According to Mr Kabba, ECOWAS is founded on the principles of collective action, shared responsibility, and mutual collaboration. To this end, an Ad-hoc Ministerial Committee has been constituted to review the procedures for position selection and recruitment within ECOWAS institutions.
“It is important to note that members of the Ad-hoc Committee have reviewed the Commission’s proposals on statutory positions, which will inform our deliberations on the memorandum concerning allocation proposals for member states.”
Welcoming Council members, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to providing the necessary support to ensure the continued success of the organisation.
“We fully recognise the importance of this exercise as an essential undertaking aimed at ensuring that all existing vacancies are duly filled, thereby enabling the organisation to operate at its optimal capacity. Nigeria remains steadfast in its role as a dependable partner, ever ready to contribute meaningfully to the strengthening of our community institutions and the realisation of the noble objectives for which this organisation stands. We believe that with collective effort and renewed dedication, we can build a more effective, responsive, and fully functional organisation that truly serves the aspirations of our region and beyond,” she says.
For his part, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, explained that the bloc’s goal is to achieve equity, ensure quality, and consolidate the solidarity that strengthens the Community. He notes that the Extraordinary Council meeting is borne out of necessity.
“In the last three years, we have struggled to fill vacancies in our institutions due to a staff regulation that constrains management’s ability to expedite the recruitment process. It has therefore become necessary to refer these matters to the Council from time to time to help untangle the web. We are very grateful to the Council for the earlier waiver, which enabled us to shorten the advertisement period for vacant positions. We now look forward to your deliberations and guidance on this matter.” He emphasised.
Touray further said that the major challenge lies in processing applications and scheduling interviews, which has been slower than the rate of staff attrition, primarily due to an ageing workforce and an average annual loss of staff to retirement.
“The volume of applications exceeds the capacity of the recruitment firms currently engaged, due to the largely manual method used in processing them. As a result, we have had to engage additional recruitment firms and are seeking your approval for international independent firms to assist in a comprehensive recruitment exercise. I have also directed the Internal Services Department to accelerate the deployment of an e-recruitment system to fast-track the application processing,” the President of the ECOWAS Commission explained.
He disclosed that “With the sudden departure of a large number of our workforce, nationals of countries that exited the organisation, namely Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, we face the challenge of replacing them. We need the Council’s guidance in equitably distributing these vacant positions among all member states without sacrificing competence. Since our staff regulations do not currently guide how to allocate vacant positions to specific member states for the sake of equity, it has become necessary for the Council to provide direction on the way forward.”
The Commission President reiterates the commitment to protecting the interests of all member states, regardless of whether their nationals are currently represented in the management of ECOWAS institutions.
“We are pleased to present to you a memorandum with proposals aimed at achieving equitable distribution of positions and fast-tracking the recruitment process. In making these proposals, the Commission took into account the current staff distribution by member state and the interests of those states with poor representation in the institutions’ workforce. Our goal is to ensure equity, maintain quality, and strengthen the solidarity that underpins our community. We have taken an oath to serve the entire Community and not just our narrow national interests. We look forward to your deliberations and guidance on this matter.” Touray added
On the sidelines of the meeting, Mr Kalilou Sylla is sworn in as the new ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, succeeding Massandjé Touré-Litsé of Côte d’Ivoire.