ECOWAS plans four objective for 2023 community budget

By Favour Nnabugwu
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, ECOWAS has objective plans against  terrorim, political stability in the “Our community depends of the outcomes of the outcomes of this deliberation. That is why the honorable members of AFC have to make constructive and concrete contributions. community budget
ECOWAS President, Omar Touray at the opening of 32nd Meeting of the ECOWAS Administrative and Finance Committee (AFC) in Abuja, said that the budget is designed to set the agenda for the next four years, which is aimed at putting the region back on track for regional integration
Touray said that the 2023 Community budget of “Consolidation and Reforms” is prepared to ensure the consolidation of the gains made in the institutional reform process and support the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia War.
“It is in view of the foregoing issues that we quickly identified four strategic objectives that would be our focus for the next four years which we called the 4 by 4 (4x).
“These four objectives are; Enhanced peace and security, Deeper Regional Integration, Good Governance, Inclusive and Sustained Development.
“In addition to these four strategic objectives, we have identified two enablers namely capable institutions and equitable partnerships, which would facilitate the realization of our objectives.
“Let me quickly add that our four strategic objectives are already aligned with the Community Strategic Framework (CSF), which has been developed for the realization of the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
“We intend to focus on strengthening the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and achieving results related to;
“The Implementation Plan against Terrorism (on this we would like to invite you to support us with the full realization of the one billion dollars Pool Fund which our Members Pledged).
“The full operationalization of the ECOWAS Maritime security Architecture, the full operationalization of the National Early Warning and Response Centers, Building the mediation and rapid response capacity of ECOWAS,” Touray said.
Touray said that second strategic objective is to deepen Regional Integration through the promotion and enhancement of intra-community trade, free movement of people, and the monetary Union.
“Specific deliverables for the next four years under this pillar will include; Reducing tarrif and non-tariff barriers (through the effective deployment of the ETLS Task Force).
“Full operationalization of the regional payment system, introduction of ECO-Visa, implementation to concrete border projects under the ECOWAS Cross Border Programme, among others,” he added.
On the third strategic objective of Good Governance, Touray said the Community budget will focus on building stronger regimes against anti-constitutional change of government and support Member States to deepen democracy.
“Here, our specific deliverables in the next four years will include; completing the transition to democracy in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea. Enhancing our election support to Member states including observation mission.
“Strengthening ECOWAS Court and the ECOWAS Parliament to play their democratic roles. Instituting a broader mandate for intervention as a strong measure against anti-constitutional change of government.”
The ECOWAS Commission’s President said that the fourth strategic objective is Inclusive and Sustainable Development which covers gender and social programmes, infrastructure and environment.
“In the next four years, we intend to invest in Food security, including further increase in the stock of our Regional Food Security Reserve.
“And the implementation of the ECOWAS rice Offensive Action Plan (2022-2025) to reduce our dependence on imports, as exposed by the Ukraine-Russia war,” Touray said.
Declaring the meeting open, Chair of the AFC, Ms Silva Cristina said that the meeting is aimed at assessing the community budget to ensure that community resources and efficiently used for the betterment of ECOWAS citizens.
“The main objective of this year-end meeting is to consider and validate our budget, it is also to ensure the technical and financial monitoring of the year under review, 2022 budget.
“Our community depends of the outcomes of the outcomes of this deliberation. That is why the honorable members of AFC have to make constructive and concrete contributions.
“And our work will be to ensure that the strategic objectives of the community are being met. We are invited to look at the medium-term expenditure frame-work, 2023 to 2025.
“We are of the view that this exercise will only be easy if we look at it against the background of economic framework which ahs been strongly marred by the pandemic and also persistent non-enforcement of the protocol of the community levy on all product.