Members of the ECOWAS parliament have commenced a study that would enhance powers of the parliament in the region.
Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker ECOWAS Parliament disclosed the measure at a meeting with the Zimbabwe Speaker of Parliament, Lovemore Moyo.
He said that the study would also bring about issues of making laws, oversight functions, budgetary control and confirmation of certain appointments with the region.
Ekweremadu, who is also the Deputy Senate President for Nigeria, added that the parliament had constituted a committee that was working on the issue.
“I have given them the deadline of May to produce results and thereafter we are going to start the advocacy that will help us get the support of heads of states to amend the protocol setting up ECOWAS to accommodate this new development.
“I am happy that while this is happening, there is reaction in the Pan-African parliament along that same line,’’ he said.
The speaker noted that Pan-African parliament had gone ahead of ECOWAS parliament in ensuring amendment of protocol.
“So, am believing that everything been equal by the first quarter of next year we would have achieved this milestone,’’ he added.
Ekweremadu also noted that there would be a meeting in Addis Ababa in January which the Pan-African parliament would also address ECOWAS parliament on issue of enhancement of power.
He told the Zimbabwean speaker that ECOWAS parliament was interested in the country’s constitutional development.
The Deputy Senate President also informed his counterpart that Nigeria had series of such development with regards to its constitution.