Dr Sidie Tunis, Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, has ordered an immediate halt to employee recruitment.
Tunis has set up a panel to investigate alleged malpractices in the recruitment process, reaffirming the Parliament’s commitment to uphold and protect the rights of all citizens of the community to aspire to positions in any ECOWAS institution, in accordance with the provisions of the group’s staff regulations and all related protocols.
The decision was made by the Speaker in a statement issued by the parliament’s Communications Division.
The suspension comes in response to complaints made by the Nigerian delegation in parliament that the country’s applicants were being overlooked in the recruiting process.
Newsmen previously reported that Nigeria’s representative to the bloc had threatened to withdraw its membership because its citizens were being marginalized in terms of jobs and advancement in the legislature.
The speaker had received written objections from the 1st Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, and Amb. Musa Sani Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the ECOWAS Commission.
The work of the eight-man independent Ad Hoc Investigation Committee is planned to begin in August 2022, and its conclusions are expected to be made available to the speaker within a week, according to the statement.
A bureau meeting will be called promptly to discuss the report before it is presented to the plenary.
“The Honourable Speaker’s action is in accordance with Rules Thirty-three (33) and Thirty-four (34) of the Rules of Procedures of the Parliament, which provide that a Special Committee may be established to handle specific concerns,” according to the statement.
“The Ad hoc Committee would be led by Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume, Chairman of the Senate Administration, Finance, and Budget Committee.”
“Other Committee members include Hon. Lynda Chuba Ikpeazu of Nigeria and Hon. Fatoumatta Njai of the Gambia.”
“Hon. Amadou Djibo Ali of Niger, Hon. Kounon Nahou Agbandao of Togo, Hon. Caramo Camara of Guinea Bissau, Hon. Moussokora Chantal Fanny of Côte d’Ivoire, and Mr Arboncana Oumarou Dicko to serve as Committee Clerk.”
“The Ad Hoc Committee’s Terms of Reference shall be as follows: Investigate allegations of inappropriate behavior in the ECOWAS Parliament’s continuing recruitment process. Investigate claims of Nigerian candidates being marginalized in the present recruitment process.
“Use normal parliamentary procedure to investigate and ascertain whether the plenary adopted any Resolution relating the subject topic (Staff Recruitment);”
“In carrying out its mandate, the committee shall be allowed access to all documents relevant to the recruitment exercise and shall collaborate with the ECOWAS Parliament’s Advisory Committee on Recruitment and Promotions to examine and review the process.”
“The provisions of the Supplementary Act and the ECOWAS Staff Regulations would guide the Ad hoc Committee.”
