Ndume and Abiante Push for Stronger ECOWAS Parliament Powers

Nigerian lawmakers, Senators Ali Ndume and Awaji N. Abiante, have urged for stronger legislative powers for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, which currently holds a largely advisory status. This call was made on the sidelines of the 2026 Second Extraordinary Session and Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Accra, Ghana.

The senators expressed concerns that the advisory nature of the Parliament restricts its ability to influence implementation and hold regional institutions accountable, especially in light of the growing impact of climate change on issues such as environmental degradation, migration, and food security in West Africa. They advocated for amendments to the ECOWAS legal framework to enhance the powers of both the Parliament and the ECOWAS judiciary.

Ndume emphasized the need for clearer legal frameworks governing livestock movement and resource management to mitigate conflicts arising from environmental pressures, linking these issues to inadequate government engagement and insufficient political will.