Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has revealed plans by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament to amend its Supplementary Act to reinforce the Separation of Powers and ensure legislative autonomy.
Speaking during an interview in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, at the sidelines of a meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Joint Committee on Administration, Finance, Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy, and Economic Research, Kalu emphasized the necessity of updating laws that have become obsolete. According to him, such amendments are crucial to strengthening the legislature and preventing the executive from becoming “the judge in their own case.”
Kalu, who chairs the Joint Committee, expressed confidence that the proposal would receive support from the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. He stressed that revising the protocols that established the ECOWAS Commission and Parliament is essential for maintaining the credibility of subregional institutions on the international stage.
“Rightly put, we need to amend the Supplementary Act,” Kalu stated. “The protocols that brought the ECOWAS Commission and ECOWAS Parliament into existence need to be overhauled. No law is cast in stone, and we must ensure that our laws meet the needs of our dynamic society.”
He further explained that the parliament is reviewing laws related to the management, administration, and operational functions of ECOWAS to determine their fitness for purpose. Kalu argued that the current Supplementary Act does not fully guarantee the independence of the legislature, which is vital for a democratic institution.
Kalu, who also chairs Nigeria’s House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee, emphasized that a strong legislature is the cornerstone of democracy. He noted that without a robust legislative arm, the executive could dominate, leading to a lack of accountability and transparency.
“The doctrine of Separation of Powers is clear on the boundaries of each arm of government,” Kalu said. “It is essential for each branch to function independently and serve as a watchdog for the others. Strengthening the legislature is key to upholding the principles of transparency, accountability, and credibility in governance.”
Kalu acknowledged that achieving this goal would require extensive advocacy, lobbying, and negotiation to garner the necessary support. He stressed that without these reforms, the ECOWAS organization risks losing its credibility on the global stage due to its failure to observe the true elements of good governance.
