The Economic Community of West Africa States ECOWAS, while reeling out gains of it's golden year anniversary, has called for a strong capacity to strengthen regional integration, especially issues of financing as well as the negative impact from the withdrawal of three member states of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the community.
The Vice President of ECOWAS, Mrs. Damtien Larbli Tchintchibidja stated this on Sunday at the ongoing three-day 37th Meeting of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) in Abuja with representatives from ECOWAS Member States to deliberate on vital financial and administrative matters critical to the region’s economic stability and integration efforts.
"As you know, our organisation is currently going through an existential crisis and in such circumstances, we must sit down together, pose and examine the problems and challenges facing us without complacency and together redouble our efforts to find appropriate solutions.
"Our organisation is at a crossroads, and this calls for a strong capacity to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of integration and to project ourselves into the future. But beyond all that, we must be aware and recognise that our strength lies in unity, solidarity and fraternity.
"Indeed, moving forward together on the road to development, in peace and stability, is priceless."
According to the Vice President, one of the lessons learnt from the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary and those learnt from the departure of the three Member States is that it is essential and imperative for ECOWAS to speed up the institutional, organisational, political and security reforms needed in order to adapt to the new realities.
"I therefore appeal to your sense of responsibility so that together we can undertake the necessary reforms.
It is in this spirit that I am pleased to announce the forthcoming organisation, in accordance with the decisions of the Heads of State and Government, of a Summit on the Future of the Community, at which your contribution will be highly appreciated.
"Prior consultations will be organised, including with young people and women, to take into account all the needs for the future of the Community
"Today's meeting is part of a twofold dynamic: on the one hand, that of the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of ECOWAS and, on the other, that of the official withdrawal of three of our Member States," she stressed.
She expressed ECOWAS appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and current President of the Conference of Heads of State and Government, and to his peers, for their leadership, continued support and wise counsel to all the Institutions of the Community.
She recalled that the Extraordinary Council of Ministers held in Accra on 22 and 23 April 2025 adopted the Contingency Plan on withdrawal presented by the Commission and laid the foundations for negotiations with the outgoing States, in the spirit of minimising the negative effects of withdrawal and preserving the gains of 50 years of integration efforts in our region.
"During this Session, we will have the honour of updating you on the progress made on the following issues: the state of mid-term implementation of the programmes and activities of the Community's institutions; The difficult financial situation of the Community;
The state of recruitment within the institutions," she noted.
The Vice President commented AFC for the decisive and eminently important role it played in the Community's decision-making bodies.
"You are the guardians of the rules and procedures that govern the Community institutions. In addition to analysing and evaluating the implementation of Community programmes, projects and activities, you also play a supervisory, advisory and performance monitoring role.
"We therefore salute your leading role, your high sense of responsibility and your rigour in formulating relevant recommendations to the Council of Ministers, which in turn approves the proposals to be submitted to the Conference of Heads of State and Government.
"Through you, Mr Chairman, I extend my sincere thanks to all AFC members for their constant support, their contribution to the visibility of our achievements in the Member States, and for their commitment to the well-being of the people of our region,' she noted.
In his remarks, Commissioner, Internal Services, Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma stressed the need for ECOWAS to develop internal mechanism for funding it's activities.
The Chair AFC, Amb. Emmanuel Awe reminded members of two meaningful issues of compliance of member states and staffing of their workstations.
"As usual, our peace-keeping and collaborative engagements are expected in this region in order to achieve the purpose of establishing a new ground of international cooperation.
"Let me seize this opportunity to congratulate all members on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ECOWAS."