By John Okeke
Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament , Sidie Mohamed Tunis has promised to enact policies geared towards supporting sister institutions in the execution of COVID-19 related programs for the benefit of the citizens of the sub-region.
Tunis said this in his address in Commemoration of ECOWAS Day 28 May 2020.
He expressed optimism that the region will come out of the ugly situation posed by the pandemic while urging member states to prioritize the safety of its citizens in the face of the pandemic.
“On our part, the 5th Legislature shall play its role towards the ECOWAS’ post COVID-19 recovery response strategies by collaborating with and enacting policies to support sister institutions in the execution of COVID-19 related programs for the benefit of the citizens of the sub-region.
“We are optimistic that given the resilient nature of our people, there is no doubt that we will bounce back and make a full recovery in the no distant time. However, for that to happen faster, we urge governments of Member States to be mindful of the need to commit to protecting livelihoods and investments in key sectors of our economies and identifying ingenious ways of injecting liquidity as a lifeblood to stimulate our economies,” he said.
Commenting on ECOWAS at 45, the speaker said,”On this occasion of the commemoration of the ECOWAS Day, I wish to convey warm felicitations and best wishes to our dear ECOWAS Citizens on behalf of the entire ECOWAS Parliament, the Bureau and staff.
“Today, Thursday, 28 May, 2020, we call to mind the creation of our Community of the current fifteen West African States, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos on 28 May, 1975, a community whose founding fathers birthed the long-term vision which inspired the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In other words, they envisioned a regional community geared toward fostering interstate economic and political cooperation along the West African coastal and its landlocked zones, cutting across linguistic, geographic and colonial barriers. The revision of the Lagos Treaty in 1993 assigned more mandate to ECOWAS, setting as economic objectives the achievement of a Common Market and Custom Union. ECOWAS then began a new journey, with the adoption by Member States of the Revised Treaty which also provided for the establishment of the ECOWAS Parliament and the ECOWAS Court of Justice. It also expanded the role of the ECOWAS to include conflict prevention and ensuring good governance and democracy.
“Over time, Member States adopted ECOWAS as a main regional economic community, positioned for the realization of the African Union objectives. In the course of its existence, ECOWAS has focused on numerous programs, with some of its flagship programs centering on the Trade Liberalization Scheme which fast-tracked the adoption of the Common External Tariff (CET). Others initiatives include the Free Movement of Persons, Goods, Services and Capital, on which platform ECOWAS modestly distinguished itself amongst peers in the entire region of Africa, as the most successful regional economic community in the area of visa-free migration, right of residence and establishment for its citizens. Yet others are, the Monetary Cooperation Program and program on Peace and Security.”
“To that extent, forty-five years down the line of history, our States are better integrated, with citizens migrating more freely and goods and services more readily available across Member States. ECOWAS has remarkable records of success in maintaining peace and stability in Member States whilst upholding democratic values across the region. Also worthy of note are its Common Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) which aims to promote agri-business and agricultural practices that are modern and sustainable in Member States, the multi-faceted infrastructure program that fosters improvement of inter-state corridor roads, rails, air links and telecommunications, energy as well as the program on the single currency,” the speaker said.
He continued, despite these remarkable achievements as a region, our people continue to yearn for help particularly under the current global pandemic of COVID-19.
“We are mindful of the fact that this outbreak is like none in the past. Since it was first detected in December, 2019, within months, it eroded our normal ways of life, confined us within our respective borders, bringing our economies to a virtual standstill and triggering a possible recession for the year.
“As at 24 May, the sub-region has recorded over 29,000 confirmed cases with over 11,000 recoveries and sadly, above 600 deaths. These are not mere numbers or statistics of physical things but of human beings, citizens of West Africa whose lives were cut short by this rampaging virus. As I empathize with all citizens as we all are directly or remotely affected, the pain and agony of these needless loss of lives cannot be fully expressed by me on behalf of the Parliament; but rest assured of our constant support and prayers for the healing of the world and particularly, our beloved sub-region,” he said.
“Nonetheless, on what ECOWAS is doing, I am well aware that the ECOWAS Commission and the West African Health Organization (WAHO), two of our sister institutions have initiated various responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Member States. These responses include the provision of training and essential supplies to strengthen the public health systems in Member States in order to foster the fight against the spread of the scourge,” he added.
