Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
ECOWAS Parliament Strengthens Financial Oversight As PAC Members Complete Accra Training
Effective oversight is critical to accountability in regional institutions, and members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the ECOWAS Parliament have taken a major step towards improving that responsibility through a specialised training programme in Ghana.
The lawmakers concluded a three-day capacity-building workshop in Accra aimed at enhancing their ability to scrutinise public expenditure within the ECOWAS Commission, the Parliament, and the Community Court of Justice.
Speaking after the training, the Committee’s First Rapporteur, Senator Osita Izunaso, described the exercise as highly beneficial, noting that it had equipped members with the knowledge needed to perform their legislative oversight functions more effectively.
Izunaso, who represents Imo West Senatorial District in Nigeria’s Senate, acknowledged that inadequate training had previously limited the committee’s effectiveness.
According to him, participants examined audit tracking systems and explored ways to align the committee’s work with that of the administration, finance, and budget committees to ensure smooth collaboration and avoid overlapping responsibilities.
He added that discussions also focused on the committee’s mandate and the challenges posed by the limits of its powers within the ECOWAS Parliament.
The workshop is expected to strengthen transparency, accountability, and financial governance across ECOWAS institutions by improving the capacity of lawmakers responsible for monitoring the use of public resources.
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