The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu says the legislative arm of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will intensify its oversight functions on the executive arm to ensure that the finances are judiciously and transparently used for the people.
Kalu who also doubles as chairman of the finance and budget committee of the ECOWAS Parliament made this known on Monday, August 12, while speaking as the co-chair at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget/Public Accounts/Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.
According to him, “This can only be achieved through meaningful engagements with key stakeholders, especially, the ECOWAS Commission and the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC), which is a statutory technical committee under the supervision of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.”
While offering more insights on the budgeting process, Kalu said it is a key skill for ensuring that community institutions like ECOWAS have the resources to execute programs, projects and activities that are in the interest of the member countries.
