ECOWAS Speaker Sets up Adhoc Committee to Investigate Recruitment Malpractice Against Nigerian candidates

ECOWAS Speaker Sets up Adhoc Committee to Investigate Recruitment Malpractice Against Nigerian candidates

-Orders suspension of the Recruitment

By Linda Ike

The Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis has constituted an independent Adhoc Committee to investigate allegations of marginalization and malpractice against Nigerian Candidates in the ongoing recruitment process.at the ECOWAS Parliament.

Tunis also ordered the suspension of the ongoing recruitment exercises, pending the outcome of the investigation by the Independent Adhoc Committee.

This followed allegations by the Nigerian Representatives to the Parliament that the recruitment exercise is lopsided.

The Nigerian Delegations to the bloc had recently threatened to withdraw their membership to the ECOWAS as it’s citizens were marginalized in the recruitment process.

In a statement issued by the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, Hon. Tunis started that he received written complaints from the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Idris Wase and the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the ECOWAS Commission Ambassador Musa Sani Nuhu over the ongoing recruitment exercise at the Parliament.

The statement reads:” The action of the Honourable Speaker is in Conformity to Rule Thirty-three (33) and Thirty-four ,(34) of the Rule of Procedures of the Parliament which provides that a Special Committee may be set up to address specific matters. The Speaker, in response to the pressing emergences, can set up an adhoc committee, in consultation with the Bureau and inform Parliament at its next session”

“The Adhoc Committee will be headed by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Chairman of the Committee on Administration, Finance, and Budget. Other Members of the Committee include:

Other Committee members include:
a Hon. Lynda Chuba Ikpeazu – Nigeria, b b Hon. Fatoumatta Njai- The Gambia,
c Hon. Amadou Djibo Ali
Niger,
d Hon. Kounon Nahou Agbandao – Togo,
e Hon. Caramo Camara – Guinea Bissau,
f Hon. Moussokora Chantal Fann – Cote d’ Ivoire,
g Mr. Arboncana Oumarou Dicko – Clerk to the Committee”

“The Terms of Reference of the Ad Hoc Committee shall be as follows: Investigate allegations of inappropriate conduct in the ongoing recruitment process at the ECOWAS Parliament;

Investigate allegations of marginalization of Nigerian Candidates in the current recruitment process;

Investigate and determine if indeed the plenary adopted any Resolution concerning the subject matter (Recruitment of Staff), using normal parliamentary procedure;

“In the execution of its mandate, the Committee shall be granted access to all documents relating to the recruitment exercise and work with the Advisory Committee on Recruitment and Promotions at the ECOWAS Parliament, to under-study and review the exercise. The Adhoc Committee would be guided by the provisions of the Supplementary Act and the ECOWAS Staff Regulations”

“The work of the Ad Hoc Committee is expected to commence on 22nd August 2022 and its findings are expected to be reported to the Honorable Speaker in one week, following which a Bureau meeting will be convened to consider the report for onward submission to the Plenary”

Hon. Tunis, affirmed his commitment to fair labor practices and is devoted to upholding and protecting the rights of all Citizens of the Community to aspire for positions in any Community Institution, in line with the provisions of the ECOWAS Staff Regulations and all related Protocols.