Task Of ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee Based On Accountability, Credibility, Says Kalu

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has identified accountability, credibility, and transparency as key themes in the work of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee, which he chairs.

He said this during an interview with journalists in Abidjan, Cote D’Voire, on the eve of the committee’s delocalised meeting.

Kalu chairs the Joint Committee on Administration, Finance, Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy, and Economic Research.

The lawmaker explained that all financial committees under the joint committee’s jurisdiction seek to investigate the parliament’s financial health.

He asked, “For example, what roles are we supposed to play in order to become more transparent, demonstrate high-level integrity, and be more accountable?

“And, as you know, it is an evolving institution with certain transparency, accountability, and credibility structures that are supposed to be mature.

“So, what we are doing is dissecting the structures as they are right now,” he continued.

He continued, “Put the first thing first. Set the integrity scale to a high score for the community.

“Set the transparency scale to a high value, as well as the accountability scale.

“Once we establish our credibility, we will receive a lot of support from various sources.”

He added that the ECOWAS parliament was looking into ways to close the gaps that undermine its transparency, accountability, and credibility.

“Are there things that do not exist?

“How can we strengthen them?”

“Hopefully, by the end of this technical session, we will have reached the best resolution for the subcommittees,” he stated.