December 16, 2021

Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, has on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, paid a courtesy call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, the seat of the Nigerian Presidency in Abuja.

The Speaker briefed His Excellency on the cardinal objective of his tenure, which is the election of Members into the ECOWAS Parliament through Direct Universal Suffrage, and solicited the support of Nigeria towards actualizing this cause.

“Your Excellency, bearing in mind the numerous advantages appertaining to the direct election of Members into the ECOWAS Parliament, we ask that you please consider granting this advocacy your fullest support. We are convinced that with your support, we are on our way to safe landing,” the Speaker said.

The Speaker also thanked the Nigerian Government for the provision of land and sought presidential intervention to accelerate the construction of the new Headquarters of the ECOWAS Parliament, expressing anticipation that the project will be concluded within the life span of the current administration.

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Tunis lauded the Government and people of Nigeria, through President Buhari, for the enormous support they have rendered the ECOWAS Parliament since its founding.

“Your Excellency, we are confident that we can continue to count on your usual and untiring assistance as we collectively carry on the most needed task of strengthening democracy and the rule of law across the West African sub- region,” the Speaker concluded.

President Buhari welcoming the delegation, praised the Honorable Speaker, whom he said was leading the Parliament to its rightful democratic competence.

He expressed his fullest support for the Direct Elections of Members into the ECOWAS Parliament, provided that it will be achieved at minimum cost to the Community.

His Excellency reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Government to ensuring that the Parliament’s Headquarters is constructed in time.

“Nigeria has accepted to host the ECOWAS Parliament and we will do all we can to make your stay comfortable,” he concluded.

 Dr. Tunis was accompanied by the Third and Forth Deputy Speakers, the Chairman on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism, Secretary General and some Senior Management Staff of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Ghanamps.com