The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the ECOWAS Parliament is set to begin public hearings on audit reports submitted by the Community’s Auditor General as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and oversight within the regional bloc.
The First Rapporteur of the committee, Senator Osita Izunaso, disclosed this after a three-day capacity-building workshop for PAC members held in Accra, Ghana.
Izunaso said the committee was determined to deepen accountability mechanisms within the ECOWAS Parliament and ensure that audit findings receive proper scrutiny through public engagements.
He commended members of the committee for their active participation during the workshop, noting that the meeting was successfully held outside the Parliament’s headquarters and provided an opportunity for members to broaden their understanding of parliamentary oversight responsibilities.
According to him, the timing of the committee’s first public hearing will depend on when the Auditor General formally submits audit reports for consideration.
Izunaso explained that discussions at the workshop focused on the operations and effectiveness of regional parliamentary institutions, including the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the ECOWAS Parliament.
He noted that among the institutions examined, only the European Parliament enjoys full autonomy and extensive powers of enforcement.
“Our powers are limited in terms of enforcement and implementation. We are looking at how to expand these issues, and one of the things we were told to do is to conduct oversight and hold public hearings,” Izunaso said.
The senator observed that auditors are often cautious about being directly linked to reported infractions, making it essential for audit reports to be thoroughly prepared before they are subjected to committee review and public examination.
To improve efficiency and strengthen its mandate, he revealed that the committee has resolved to hold regular meetings and intensify its oversight activities.
Izunaso further disclosed that the findings and recommendations arising from the committee’s work will be presented to the plenary during the second ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament scheduled to take place in Abuja.
According to him, the full Parliament will deliberate on the reports and take final decisions on issues raised by the committee.
The planned public hearings are expected to enhance transparency within ECOWAS institutions and reinforce the Parliament’s commitment to accountability across the West African sub-region.
