ABUJA—THE
Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to begin work at reviewing
Nigeria’s foreign policies to ensure greater respect for Nigeria, especially in
Africa.
The Red
Chamber also called on the President to work towards ensuring that the country
had permanent positions in all institutions of the Economic Community of West
African States, ECOWAS.
The
position of the Senate came following a motion presented on its floor during
yesterday’s plenary, by the Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the
Parliament of ECOWAS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu West, and other
senators/ members of the Nigerian National Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Upper
Chamber, which also called on ECOWAS to take steps to bring about a common visa
regime as well as common currency in the sub-region, said its position was as a
result of the huge sacrifices the country had made in terms of human and
material resources to promote regional integration, peace and stability.
The
Deputy Senate President, had in the motion, made to mark ECOWAS at 40, recalled
that the organization was established by a treaty of Lagos, signed on May 28,
1975, with the core objective of promoting regional cooperation and integration
in order to raise the living standards of the people of the region, maintain
and increase economic stability, strengthen relations among the member states
and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent.
In the
motion, the sponsors said they were aware that Nigeria’s former head of State,
General Yakubu Gowon (retd), played a major role in the formation of the
regional body, adding that they were not unaware that the regional body had
gone a step further to promote democracy, regional peace and socio-political
stability in continent.
In its
resolution, the Senate commended ECOWAS for successfully stamping out military
rule and other forms of unconstitutional take-over of power in the sub-region
as well as gallantly weathered the storms of internal conflicts and wars,
terrorism, insurgency and other various forms of socio-political upheavals.
The Senate,
however, regretted that even as it was the biggest contributor to the regional
body, Nigeria had not shown what it called “keen interest in the management of
the funds of the ECOWAS,” just as it noted that Nigeria’s sub-regional
influence was continuously waning.
Earlier,
in his contribution to the debate on the motion, Senator Ayogu Eze, PDP, Enugu
North, while supporting the motion, urged Nigeria to play its expected role
within Africa and globally.
He said:
“Those of us who are Nigerians, who participate in the affairs of ECOWAS are
either at the parliamentary level or at the level of the commission. I have
come to the conclusion that unless something drastic is done with regard to the
structure of Nigeria’s position in ECOWAS, Nigeria should quit that
organization.
“Nigeria
bears about 70 to 80 per cent of the levies and bears almost 90 per cent of
running the commission and the parliament. In fact, the parliament has just
been renovated at the expense of Nigeria.”
Also
contributing, Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central, said: “It is important
for senators to understand why we are where we are. The foundation of Nigerian
foreign policy is Africa and until the National Assembly and Federal Government
decide to change the theme of the Nigerian foreign policy, what we are
advocating will not change.”
Senate
President, David Mark, in his remark, thanked the senators for the motion,
saying the motion came timely because, according to him, there was every need
to review the country’s foreign policy.
“Clearly,
there is a problem with our foreign policy and I think we do need to review it.
Not reviewing it in terms of Africa being the piece of our foreign policy, but
at least, in the implementation stage.
“I think
we have not put in enough energy and determination to implement the foreign
policy, the way we have articulated it on pages of papers.
“It is a
shame that if we conceded truly that because we have the headship, we cannot
then get any other commissioner. That will be a big shame because if we conceded
that, then, we must do a proper thinking on it because it is unacceptable,”
Mark said.
“The fact
that the headquarters is here is an additional burden on us if anything else
and we should be duly compensated for that. It should not be used against us because
we pay a lot of bills, electricity bill, water bill, painting the wall and
other things, so we are contributing so much.
“As a big
brother they should give us the due respect. We have been careful not to
oppress the other countries in the sub-region but we shouldn’t be taken for
granted and they ride high on us and do what they want.
“We
appreciate the fact that the English speaking countries are meeting but we must
make sure that we ensure the unity and continuity of ECOWAS. I think we
shouldn’t do anything to break ECOWAS up. If anything, we should get more
countries to join because the more we are the stronger we are going to be at
the end of the day.
ABUJA—THE
Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to begin work at reviewing
Nigeria’s foreign policies to ensure greater respect for Nigeria,
especially in Africa.
The Red Chamber also called on the President to work towards ensuring that the country had permanent positions in all institutions of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
The position of the Senate came following a motion presented on its floor during yesterday’s plenary, by the Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the Parliament of ECOWAS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu West, and other senators/ members of the Nigerian National Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Upper Chamber, which also called on ECOWAS to take steps to bring about a common visa regime as well as common currency in the sub-region, said its position was as a result of the huge sacrifices the country had made in terms of human and material resources to promote regional integration, peace and stability.
The Deputy Senate President, had in the motion, made to mark ECOWAS
at 40, recalled that the organization was established by a treaty of
Lagos, signed on May 28, 1975, with the core objective of promoting
regional cooperation and integration in order to raise the living
standards of the people of the region, maintain and increase economic
stability, strengthen relations among the member states and contribute
to the progress and development of the African continent.
In the motion, the sponsors said they were aware that Nigeria’s former head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), played a major role in the formation of the regional body, adding that they were not unaware that the regional body had gone a step further to promote democracy, regional peace and socio-political stability in continent.
In its resolution, the Senate commended ECOWAS for successfully stamping out military rule and other forms of unconstitutional take-over of power in the sub-region as well as gallantly weathered the storms of internal conflicts and wars, terrorism, insurgency and other various forms of socio-political upheavals.
The Senate, however, regretted that even as it was the biggest contributor to the regional body, Nigeria had not shown what it called “keen interest in the management of the funds of the ECOWAS,” just as it noted that Nigeria’s sub-regional influence was continuously waning.
Earlier, in his contribution to the debate on the motion, Senator Ayogu Eze, PDP, Enugu North, while supporting the motion, urged Nigeria to play its expected role within Africa and globally.
He said: “Those of us who are Nigerians, who participate in the affairs of ECOWAS are either at the parliamentary level or at the level of the commission. I have come to the conclusion that unless something drastic is done with regard to the structure of Nigeria’s position in ECOWAS, Nigeria should quit that organization.
“Nigeria bears about 70 to 80 per cent of the levies and bears almost 90 per cent of running the commission and the parliament. In fact, the parliament has just been renovated at the expense of Nigeria.”
Also contributing, Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central, said: “It is important for senators to understand why we are where we are. The foundation of Nigerian foreign policy is Africa and until the National Assembly and Federal Government decide to change the theme of the Nigerian foreign policy, what we are advocating will not change.”
Senate President, David Mark, in his remark, thanked the senators for the motion, saying the motion came timely because, according to him, there was every need to review the country’s foreign policy.
“Clearly, there is a problem with our foreign policy and I think we do need to review it. Not reviewing it in terms of Africa being the piece of our foreign policy, but at least, in the implementation stage.
“I think we have not put in enough energy and determination to implement the foreign policy, the way we have articulated it on pages of papers.
“It is a shame that if we conceded truly that because we have the headship, we cannot then get any other commissioner. That will be a big shame because if we conceded that, then, we must do a proper thinking on it because it is unacceptable,” Mark said.
“The fact that the headquarters is here is an additional burden on us if anything else and we should be duly compensated for that. It should not be used against us because we pay a lot of bills, electricity bill, water bill, painting the wall and other things, so we are contributing so much.
“As a big brother they should give us the due respect. We have been careful not to oppress the other countries in the sub-region but we shouldn’t be taken for granted and they ride high on us and do what they want.
“We appreciate the fact that the English speaking countries are meeting but we must make sure that we ensure the unity and continuity of ECOWAS. I think we shouldn’t do anything to break ECOWAS up. If anything, we should get more countries to join because the more we are the stronger we are going to be at the end of the day.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/senate-urges-buhari-to-review-nigerias-foreign-policy/#sthash.QQCxa16a.dpuf
The Red Chamber also called on the President to work towards ensuring that the country had permanent positions in all institutions of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
The position of the Senate came following a motion presented on its floor during yesterday’s plenary, by the Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the Parliament of ECOWAS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu West, and other senators/ members of the Nigerian National Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Upper Chamber, which also called on ECOWAS to take steps to bring about a common visa regime as well as common currency in the sub-region, said its position was as a result of the huge sacrifices the country had made in terms of human and material resources to promote regional integration, peace and stability.
The Senate
In the motion, the sponsors said they were aware that Nigeria’s former head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), played a major role in the formation of the regional body, adding that they were not unaware that the regional body had gone a step further to promote democracy, regional peace and socio-political stability in continent.
In its resolution, the Senate commended ECOWAS for successfully stamping out military rule and other forms of unconstitutional take-over of power in the sub-region as well as gallantly weathered the storms of internal conflicts and wars, terrorism, insurgency and other various forms of socio-political upheavals.
The Senate, however, regretted that even as it was the biggest contributor to the regional body, Nigeria had not shown what it called “keen interest in the management of the funds of the ECOWAS,” just as it noted that Nigeria’s sub-regional influence was continuously waning.
Earlier, in his contribution to the debate on the motion, Senator Ayogu Eze, PDP, Enugu North, while supporting the motion, urged Nigeria to play its expected role within Africa and globally.
He said: “Those of us who are Nigerians, who participate in the affairs of ECOWAS are either at the parliamentary level or at the level of the commission. I have come to the conclusion that unless something drastic is done with regard to the structure of Nigeria’s position in ECOWAS, Nigeria should quit that organization.
“Nigeria bears about 70 to 80 per cent of the levies and bears almost 90 per cent of running the commission and the parliament. In fact, the parliament has just been renovated at the expense of Nigeria.”
Also contributing, Senator Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central, said: “It is important for senators to understand why we are where we are. The foundation of Nigerian foreign policy is Africa and until the National Assembly and Federal Government decide to change the theme of the Nigerian foreign policy, what we are advocating will not change.”
Senate President, David Mark, in his remark, thanked the senators for the motion, saying the motion came timely because, according to him, there was every need to review the country’s foreign policy.
“Clearly, there is a problem with our foreign policy and I think we do need to review it. Not reviewing it in terms of Africa being the piece of our foreign policy, but at least, in the implementation stage.
“I think we have not put in enough energy and determination to implement the foreign policy, the way we have articulated it on pages of papers.
“It is a shame that if we conceded truly that because we have the headship, we cannot then get any other commissioner. That will be a big shame because if we conceded that, then, we must do a proper thinking on it because it is unacceptable,” Mark said.
“The fact that the headquarters is here is an additional burden on us if anything else and we should be duly compensated for that. It should not be used against us because we pay a lot of bills, electricity bill, water bill, painting the wall and other things, so we are contributing so much.
“As a big brother they should give us the due respect. We have been careful not to oppress the other countries in the sub-region but we shouldn’t be taken for granted and they ride high on us and do what they want.
“We appreciate the fact that the English speaking countries are meeting but we must make sure that we ensure the unity and continuity of ECOWAS. I think we shouldn’t do anything to break ECOWAS up. If anything, we should get more countries to join because the more we are the stronger we are going to be at the end of the day.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/senate-urges-buhari-to-review-nigerias-foreign-policy/#sthash.QQCxa16a.dpuf
ABUJA—THE
Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to begin work at reviewing
Nigeria’s foreign policies to ensure greater respect for Nigeria,
especially in Africa.
The Red Chamber also called on the President to work towards ensuring that the country had permanent positions in all institutions of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
The position of the Senate came following a motion presented on its floor during yesterday’s plenary, by the Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the Parliament of ECOWAS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu West, and other senators/ members of the Nigerian National Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Upper Chamber, which also called on ECOWAS to take steps to bring about a common visa regime as well as common currency in the sub-region, said its position was as a result of the huge sacrifices the country had made in terms of human and material resources to promote regional integration, peace and stability.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/senate-urges-buhari-to-review-nigerias-foreign-policy/#sthash.QQCxa16a.dpuf
The Red Chamber also called on the President to work towards ensuring that the country had permanent positions in all institutions of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
The position of the Senate came following a motion presented on its floor during yesterday’s plenary, by the Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the Parliament of ECOWAS, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PDP, Enugu West, and other senators/ members of the Nigerian National Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Upper Chamber, which also called on ECOWAS to take steps to bring about a common visa regime as well as common currency in the sub-region, said its position was as a result of the huge sacrifices the country had made in terms of human and material resources to promote regional integration, peace and stability.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/senate-urges-buhari-to-review-nigerias-foreign-policy/#sthash.QQCxa16a.dpuf
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