ECOWAS member states urged to comply with Community Levy Protocol
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee, Ambassador Olawale Emmanuel Awe, has called on member states to comply with the Community Levy Protocol in the face of dwindling finances. He made the call while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 37th Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS […]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s Chair of the Administration and Finance Committee, Ambassador Olawale Emmanuel Awe, has called on member states to comply with the Community Levy Protocol in the face of dwindling finances.
He made the call while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 37th Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee on Sunday in Abuja.
Ambassador Awe said: “I want to mention two main issues that have been recurring and which we see in this meeting. These are the community levy compliance of member states as capital of the ECOWAS institution…
“On community level, member states are expected to realise the need to comply with the protocol, especially that the three countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have withdrawn their membership of the ECOWAS.
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“By so doing, it is not only going to send a strong positive signal to others and themselves on the prospects and future of the ECOWAS, but also enable the ECOWAS to carry out its programs, including those that have a direct impact on the lives of the citizens of the ECOWAS.”
He emphasised the need for the bloc to think outside the box and rely less on its European partners.
The ECOWAS Vice-President, Madame Damtien Tchintchibidja, in her welcome address, called for a collective effort to address the bloc’s current existential crisis.
She stated, “Our strength lies in unity, solidarity and fraternity. Indeed, moving forward together on the road to development, in peace and stability, is priceless.
“We must sit down together, pose and examine the problems and challenges facing us without complacency and together redouble our efforts to find appropriate solutions.”
She, therefore, said that to address the crisis, ECOWAS plans to accelerate institutional, organisational, political, and security reforms.
“A Summit on the Future of the Community will be organised, where stakeholders, including young people and women, will contribute to discussions on the region’s future.”
Also speaking, Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, ECOWAS Commissioner of Internal Services, also emphasised the importance of collaboration and strategic resource management across ECOWAS institutions.
He encouraged committee members to optimise resource utilisation and eliminate inefficient systems and the potential impact of global developments on ECOWAS, urging the committee to think strategically about navigating these changes.