Abuja: Nigeria on Tuesday called for the upholding of fairness and inclusivity in the distribution of the statutory positions within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the appeal while declaring open an Ad hoc Ministerial Meeting on the Rotation of Statutory Appointees of ECOWAS Institutions.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the meeting was a reaffirmation of member states' shared commitment to upholding the principles of equity, regional balance, and institutional integrity within the governance framework of ECOWAS. 'I want to assure you that, as part of our enduring commitment to the ideals of regional integration and solidarity, Nigeria will continue to assume its traditional leadership role by constructively engaging with all member states to build consensus and ensure that our collective decisions reflect both equity and a shared vision for the future of our Community,' Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized the crucial task before the committee, which is central to ECOWAS' regional integration agenda. She noted that members were carefully constituted to undertake this assignment for the sub-region. She highlighted the importance of recognizing and accommodating the aspirations of member states with smaller populations or limited resources, who nonetheless show unwavering commitment to ECOWAS.
The minister cautioned that membership of the Ad-hoc Committee should not be seen as a pathway to leadership positions within ECOWAS institutions. She urged that the members' engagement should be guided by regional solidarity principles, prioritizing the collective interest of the sub-region over national aspirations. This approach, she explained, would contribute to fostering deeper unity, mutual trust, and a shared sense of purpose among ECOWAS citizens.
The task at hand involves reviewing and considering proposals for the allocation of statutory positions within ECOWAS institutions for the term 2026 to 2030. Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that this responsibility was entrusted to them based on trust, with current appointees set to complete their tenures between July and October 2026. The committee is mandated to review the Commission's proposals and submit a report to the Council of Ministers during the Statutory Meetings in December 2025 for final consideration and recommendation to the Authority.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, recalled that during the Ministerial Council's 94th Ordinary Session in June, he notified the Council of the current management tenure's expiration by July 14, 2026. This complies with the 2012 Supplementary Act on the Modalities for the Allocation of Statutory Positions in ECOWAS Institutions. Touray noted that the Commission would present a memo outlining the framework for the allocation of the statutory positions to the committee for final consideration, prepared with historical data since 1975.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the positions to be filled include those of ECOWAS President, Vice-President, Commissioners, and judges of the Community Court of Justice, among others. The rotation of statutory appointees follows the principle of rotating positions among member countries for equitable representation, with a non-renewable four-year term. The six-member Ad-hoc Committee, comprising Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo, will review the proposed appointments allocation and submit it to the Ministerial Council for consideration.