THE ROLE AND IMPACT OF THE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT ON THE INTEGRATION AND CO-OPERATION OF WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION

Abstract

This paper investigates the role and impact of the ECOWAS parliament on the integration and co-operation of West African sub-region. The aim of this paper is to examine: examine the establishment and objectives of the ECOWAS as a body, and its organs especially the parliament, explain the strategy and plans for the ECOWAS parliament on integration and co-operation of West African sub-region, discuss the activities of the first, and second, legislature, analyse the impact of the parliament on the integration of West African sub-region, and why the parliament did not have full legislative powers. The findings revealed that ECOWAS parliament is one of the community institutions established by the ECOWAS revised treaty. ECOWAS parliament also aimed at accelerating and depending the integration and development process among the people of the sub-region. again, it also revealed that the parliament was conceived as a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus among representatives of the people, the beauty of democracy is predicated on the independence of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, it revealed that the Parliaments at the federal and state levels in functional democracies enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed powers to make law for the good governance of their people. The study will contribute to ECOWAS and African nations on how to harness the resources that will improve their living conditions and to improve on political and diplomatic relations, as well as other sectors of the economy. It will also help Nigeria and other African leaders on policy making.