Nigeria has called for fairness and inclusivity in the distribution of statutory positions within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the appeal on Tuesday while declaring open an Ad-hoc Ministerial Meeting on the Rotation of Statutory Appointees of ECOWAS Institutions in Abuja.
She described the gathering as a reaffirmation of member states’ collective commitment to upholding the principles of equity, regional balance, and institutional integrity in the governance of ECOWAS.
“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,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that the committee’s task was crucial to ECOWAS’ regional integration goals and that members were carefully selected to undertake the assignment on behalf of the sub-region.
According to her, it is important to recognise and accommodate the aspirations of member states with smaller populations or limited resources that nonetheless remain steadfast in their commitment to ECOWAS.
She cautioned that membership of the Ad-hoc Committee should not be viewed as a pathway to leadership positions within ECOWAS institutions, but rather as an opportunity to demonstrate regional solidarity and prioritise the collective interest of West Africa above national ambitions.
The minister emphasised that such an approach would strengthen unity, mutual trust, and shared purpose among ECOWAS citizens.
She explained that the committee’s mandate was to review and consider proposals for the allocation of statutory positions within ECOWAS institutions for the 2026–2030 term.
“This task takes on particular urgency as the current statutory appointees, serving non-renewable four-year terms, are set to complete their tenures between July and October 2026. Our mandate, therefore, is to carefully review the Commission’s proposals and submit our report to the Council of Ministers during the Statutory Meetings in December 2025 for final consideration and recommendation to the Authority,” she said.
Dr Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, recalled that during the Council of Ministers’ 94th Ordinary Session in June, he had informed members that the tenure of the current ECOWAS management would expire by July 14, 2026.
He noted that this followed the 2012 Supplementary Act on the Modalities for the Allocation of Statutory Positions and Article 14, Paragraph 3 of the same Act.
“The memo to be presented to the committee outlines the framework for allocating statutory positions, taking into account the provisions of the 2012 Supplementary Act and historical data on allocations since 1975. It is expected that the Ad-hoc Committee will review this proposal with the broader interest of the Community at heart,” Touray said.
He added that the Commission was ready to support the committee to ensure the success of its work.
The positions to be filled include those of the ECOWAS President, Vice-President, Commissioners, judges of the Community Court of Justice, the Auditor-General, and the Directors-General of the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
The rotation of ECOWAS statutory appointees is based on the principle of equitable representation among member countries, as stipulated in its regulations, with each appointment serving a non-renewable four-year term.
The eight-member Ad-hoc Committee, comprising Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo, will review the proposed allocation of appointments and submit its report to the Ministerial Council for consideration before forwarding it to the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government for final approval.
(NAN)