The Honorable Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament convenes 4th bureau meeting in Cotonou, Republic of Benin to consider and adopt 2021 budget of Parliament

COTONOU, REPUBLIC OF BENIN 2ND NOVEMBER 2020

The Meeting of the Bureau of ECOWAS Parliament convened today, 2nd October 2020, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin to consider and adopt the 2021 Budget of Parliament in conformity with Article 25.3f (i) of the Supplementary Act Relating to the Enhancement of the Powers of Parliament which provides that the Bureau shall consider the draft budget of Parliament and present it to the appropriate Committee.

Recall that due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Plenary is unable to meet in its Extraordinary Session to consider and adopt the budget. The Parliament therefore evoked Article 25B-3f-vii of the Supplementary Act Relating to the Enhancement of the Powers of Parliament which provides that the Bureau shall assume the authority of Parliament in emergency situations.

Chairing the 4th Bureau Meeting of the 5th Legislature was the Rt. Honorable Speaker, Sidie Mohamed Tunis, and in attendance were the Deputy Speakers, Members of the Finance Committee and other Members of Parliament.

In his opening remarks, the Honorable Speaker thanked the participants for their presence and admonished them to scrupulously consider the budget and ensure that it focuses on high impact programs and projects that have long-lasting effects that meet the priority needs of the ECOWAS Member States, while taking into account two exogenous shocks affecting the ECOWAS Member States, namely: COVID-19 and security challenges especially in the Sahel and Lake Chad basin.

The Budget represents the 2nd Budget of the 5th Legislature and covers the period 1st January to 31st December, 2021. It is formulated in accordance with the ECOWAS Financial Regulations and Accounting Guidelines and Procedures.

The exercise is expected to continue until 6th November 2020 at which time it is expected that the budget will be adopted.

Meanwhile, the Honorable Speaker is expected to make opening remarks at the Delocalized meeting of the Joint Committees, which is holding from 3rd to 7th November in Cotonou to review the “African Continental Free Trade Area, How Feasible in the Face of Cross-Border Threats”.

The Honorable Speaker of the National Assembly of Benin, Officials of Government, and other invited Dignitaries are expected to be in attendance.

Committees of Parliament involved in the meeting include:

▪️Administration, Finance, and Budget

▪️Macroeconomic policies & Economic research

▪️Public Accounts, Trade, Customs & Free Movement