Members of the ECOWAS Parliament have called for the swift implementation of the 2025 draft budget, amounting to UA 23,371,350, following its adoption at the Third Extraordinary Session in Lomé, Togo.
The budget, which marks a 0.6% increase from 2024, allocates 64.71% of funds to priority programs. Lawmakers emphasized the importance of timely remittance of the Community Levy by member states, which finances nearly the entire budget.
Hon. Ibrahima Sall, speaking on behalf of the finance committee chair Hon. Benjamin Kalu, underscored the necessity of adequate resources to address regional challenges. Meanwhile, Hon. Edwin Snowe and Hon. Veronica Cessay advocated for stronger mechanisms to ensure compliance and called for prioritizing projects that benefit women and girls.
The parliament also stressed that the 2025-2027 budget should align with ECOWAS’s strategic goals of peace, integration, and sustainable development.