The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted revised Rules of Procedure that prohibit its members from making derogatory remarks about fellow parliamentarians and West African Heads of State.
The rules were adopted during the First Ordinary Session of the Parliament held on Thursday in Abuja. Presenting the report, Fourth Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, MP Billay Tunkara, said the changes were introduced to improve transparency, accountability, and effective governance.
The amended rules include penalties for absenteeism, stating that any member who misses one-third of an ordinary session without a valid excuse will be sanctioned and have their sitting allowances suspended. The reforms also establish requirements for gender and language balance in committee appointments and introduce a formal dress code to reflect the dignity of the Parliament.
Additionally, a minimum of 50 members is now required to form a quorum for sessions. To ensure impartiality, the Speaker must temporarily hand over their position to a Deputy Speaker before participating in debates.
The revised procedures are intended to improve discipline, attendance, and the quality of debate within the regional legislative body. The session, which began on Tuesday, will end on May 31. It also marks the beginning of activities to commemorate the Parliament’s 25th anniversary coming up in November.
