Senator Aniekan Bassey of the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District has congratulated the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on the conferment of the national honour, GCON, on him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senator Bassey, a member of the Public Accounts Committee of the 6th Legislature of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, also commended the Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima-led leadership for its apt consideration of the ECOWAS 2025 draft budget.
The Senator, who gave the commendation on Tuesday in Lome, Republic of Togo, while speaking with journalists shortly after the extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament and induction training for members of the 6th legislature, said the budget consideration will ensure accountability, stability, and reforms to modernize the institution.
He added that beyond encouraging a proper auditing process, the budget consideration aligns completely with ECOWAS’ 2050 Vision, which aims at an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful West Africa.
According to Senator Bassey, the extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament and the induction training for members of the 6th Legislature were intended to regroup 115 parliamentarians from the 15 member states, with emphasis also placed on financial inclusion for women and strengthening regional governance amid ongoing security and economic challenges.
He noted that although the induction training for members of the 6th legislature should have taken place earlier, it was worthwhile, as it built the capacity of the members.
Senator Bassey, who earlier proposed the establishment of a centralized digital platform where all budgetary documents, including draft budgets, financial reports, and audit results, are published and made accessible to the public, said the 6th Legislature is fully prepared to give the region its very best.
Highlights of the extraordinary session included discussions on zero tolerance for the use of plastics within the region and investment collaboration through the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
The 15 member states of ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
Media Unit
Office of the Senator
Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District
