The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament’s 39 man Special Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget, led by Senator Ali Ndume was temporarily frustrated due to technical disruption.
The disruption occurred when the Chairman, ECOWAS Commission Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) Mohammed Ismaila was presenting his briefs on the proposed Draft 2022 Community Budget.
After initial opposition from some committee members on direct presentation, a consensus was later reached to allow the AFC Chairman carry on until the technical issue was later resolved.
The Draft 2022 Budget is proposing 393,612,400 Units of Account (UA) which was presented at the ongoing ECOWAS Parliament Legislature’s second ordinary session of 2021in Abuja.
The Chairman, AFC, Mohammed Ismaila at his presentation to the committee said the 2022 draft budget was prepared having in mind the prioritisation of programmes and maintenance of same budgetary envelope approval of zero percentage increase like in 2021 except for health.
“The proposed 2022 draft budget is to the tune of 393,612,400 Units of Account.
“Seventy one per cent of the proposed budget is expected to be funded by contributions from external sources, while one 116,073,269 Units of Account will be funded from external sources.
“Given the current health situation of the world, the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) proposes a budget of over 59 million Units of Account, a 37.7 per cent increase in its 2021 budget” he said.
He explained that it was the first time a consolidated account would be presented to the Parliament for consideration and approval.
The question on how funds could be generated for Direct Universal Suffrage was however, not properly addressed as well as that of the New Parliament’s Headquarters which is being fully funded by the Nigerian Government.
The Committee further called on member states to implement the levy protocol comprehensively as well as always name countries still owing the community levy noting that Guinea, Cape Verde and Muritania are highly indebted to ECOWAS.
Adding that Guinea has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ECOWAS on modalities to offset its debt, Cape Verde is yet to sign while Muritania has parted ways with the body.
