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FOURTH LEGISLATURE RULES OF PROCEDURE

Abuja, 8th

FEBRUARY 2016

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I: DEFINITIONS ____________________________________ 6

CHAPTER II: ECOWAS PARLIAMENT ________________________ 8

Rule 1. Definition and Composition ________________________________________ 8 Rule 2. Competence of the Parliament and implementation procedure _____________ 8

Rule 3. Nature of Mandate _______________________________________________ 8 Rule 4. Duration of Parliamentary Mandate __________________________________ 8 Rule 5. Verification of Credentials _________________________________________ 9 Rule 6. Attendance of Representatives at Sittings and Votes _____________________ 9 Rule 7. Privileges and Immunities_________________________________________ 10

Rule 8. Waiver of Immunity _____________________________________________ 10 Rule 9. Instruments of Office ____________________________________________ 12

Rule 10. Refunds and Allowances__________________________________________ 12

Rule 11. Resignations and Vacation of Seat __________________________________ 12 Rule 12. Code of Conduct ________________________________________________ 13

CHAPTER III: SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT: __________________ 13

Rule 13. Inaugural Session _______________________________________________ 13 Rule 14. Ordinary Sessions _______________________________________________ 14 Rule 15. Extraordinary Session ____________________________________________ 14 Rule 16. Venue of Sessions and Meetings ___________________________________ 15

CHAPTER IV: STRUCTURES OF THE PARLIAMENT: ___________ 15

Rule 17. Governing Bodies _______________________________________________ 15 Rule 18. The Plenary ____________________________________________________ 15

Rule 19. The Bureau ____________________________________________________ 15

Rule 20. Election of Speaker ______________________________________________ 16

Rule 21. Election of Deputy Speakers _______________________________________ 16 Rule 22. Qualifications for and Election of Deputy Speakers _____________________ 17

Rule 23. Terms of Office of the Members of the Bureau ________________________ 17 Rule 24. Functions of the Bureau __________________________________________ 18 Rule 25. Duties of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers ___________________________ 19

Rule 26. Vacancies _____________________________________________________ 19 Rule 27. Conference of Bureaux ___________________________________________ 20

Rule 28. Duties of Conference of Bureaux ___________________________________ 20

CHAPTER V: COMMITTEES OF PARLIAMENT: ________________ 20

Rule 29. Committee of Selection___________________________________________ 20 Rule 30. Standing Committees ____________________________________________ 20

Rule 31. Composition of Committees _______________________________________ 21 Rule 32. Functions of Standing Committees __________________________________ 22

Rule 33. Special Committees _____________________________________________ 23 Rule 34. Joint Committees _______________________________________________ 23 Rule 35. Participation and Voting __________________________________________ 23

Rule 36. Attendance, Vacancies and Resignations _____________________________ 23 Rule 37. Convening of Committee Meetings _________________________________ 24

Rule 38. Validity of decisions _____________________________________________ 24 Rule 39. Committees of Parliamentary Enquiry _______________________________ 24

CHAPTER VI: PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS: _________________ 25

Rule 40. Formation of Parliamentary Groups _________________________________ 25 Rule 41. Non-attached Representatives ______________________________________ 25

Rule 42. Allocation of seats in the Chamber __________________________________ 25

CHAPTER VII: ORGANIZATION OF THE BUSINESS OF

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PARLIAMENT 26

Rule 43. Draft Agenda for each Session _____________________________________ 26 Rule 44. Adopting and Amending the Agenda ________________________________ 26 Rule 45. Agenda for the Inaugural Sitting of the New Parliament _________________ 26 Rule 46. Sequence of Proceedings on Order Paper _____________________________ 27

CHAPTER VIII: GENERAL RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF SITTINGS 28

Rule 47. Access to the Chamber ___________________________________________ 28

Rule 48. Languages _____________________________________________________ 28 Rule 49. Distribution of Documents ________________________________________ 28 Rule 50. Calling Speakers and Content of Speeches ____________________________ 28 Rule 51. Allocation of Speaking Time ______________________________________ 29

Rule 52. List of Speakers_________________________________________________ 29 Rule 53. Personal Statements _____________________________________________ 29

CHAPTER IX: DISCIPLINE: _________________________________ 30

Rule 54. Order in the Chamber ____________________________________________ 30 Rule 55. Exclusion of Members ___________________________________________ 30 Rule 56. Disturbances ___________________________________________________ 30

CHAPTER X: QUORUM AND VOTING: ________________________ 31

Rule 57. Quorum _______________________________________________________ 31 Rule 58. Right to Vote ___________________________________________________ 31

Rule 59. Mode of voting _________________________________________________ 32 Rule 60. Voting by Roll Call ______________________________________________ 32

Rule 61. Voting by Secret Ballot ___________________________________________ 33

Rule 62. Explanations of Vote_____________________________________________ 33

Rule 63. Disputes on Voting ______________________________________________ 34 Rule 64. Tabling and Moving Amendments __________________________________ 34 Rule 65. Admissibility of Amendments _____________________________________ 34

CHAPTER XI: INTERRUPTIVE AND PROCEDURAL MOTIONS: 35

Rule 66. Procedural Motions ______________________________________________ 35 Rule 67. Points of Order _________________________________________________ 35 Rule 68. Moving the Inadmissibility of a Matter ______________________________ 36

Rule 69. Referral Back to Committee _______________________________________ 36 Rule 70. Joint Debate ___________________________________________________ 36 Rule 71. Procedure Without Debate ________________________________________ 36 Rule 72. Closure of a Debate ______________________________________________ 36

Rule 73. Adjournment of a Debate _________________________________________ 37 Rule 74. Suspension or Closure of the Sitting _________________________________ 37

CHAPTER XII: PUBLIC RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS: _________ 37

Rule 75. Minutes _______________________________________________________ 37 Rule 76. Verbatim Reports _______________________________________________ 38 Rule 77. Session Report _________________________________________________ 38

CHAPTER XIII: OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY: __________ 38

Rule 78. Transparency of Parliament's Activities ______________________________ 38 Rule 79. Public Access to Documents of Parliament ___________________________ 39 Rule 80. Confidentiality _________________________________________________ 39

CHAPTER XIV: PETITIONS: ________________________________ 39

Rule 81. Right of Petition ________________________________________________ 39

Rule 82. Examination of Petitions __________________________________________ 40 Rule 83. Notice of Petitions_______________________________________________ 40

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CHAPTER XV: RELATIONS WITH THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY: 41

Rule 84. Relations with the Authority of Heads of State and Government __________ 41

Rule 85. Relations with the Council of Ministers ______________________________ 41 Rule 86. Relations with the Community Court of Justice ________________________ 42 Rule 87. Relations with the ECOWAS Commission ___________________________ 42 Rule 88. Relations with the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development ______ 42 Rule 89. Relations with specialized Institutions of the Community ________________ 43

CHAPTER XVI: RELATIONS WITH NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS, PARLIAMENTARY AND INTER-PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTIONS, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS: ____________________ 43

Rule 90. Relations with National Parliaments - Exchange of Information, Contacts and

Reciprocal Facilities ______________________________________________________ 43 Rule 91. Relations with Parliamentary, Inter-parliamentary Institutions and International

Organisations ___________________________________________________________ 43

CHAPTER XVII: ADDRESS BY SPECIAL GUESTS AND EMINENT PERSONS TO PARLIAMENT: _________________________________ 44

Rule 92. Statements by Special Guests and Eminent Persons _____________________ 44

CHAPTER XVIII: QUESTIONS ______________________________ 44

Rule 93. Questions to Chairman of Council and President of ECOWAS Commission _ 44

Rule 94. Deadline for the submission of Question _____________________________ 45 Rule 95. Admissibility of Question _________________________________________ 45 Rule 96. Supplementary Questions in Plenary ________________________________ 46

CHAPTER XIX: THE ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIAT OF PARLIAMENT: ______________________________________________ 47

Rule 97. The Secretary General and Other Staff _______________________________ 47

Rule 98. Mode of Appointment and Duties of Secretary General _________________ 47

CHAPTER XX: BUDGET OF PARLIAMENT:___________________ 47

Rule 99. Budget of Parliament ____________________________________________ 47

Rule 100. Accounts and Audit ____________________________________________ 48

CHAPTER XXI: APPLICATION, INTERPRETATION AND REVIEW OF RULES OF PROCEDURE __________________________________ 48

Rule 101. Suspension of Rules ___________________________________________ 48 Rule 102. Matters not provided for in these Rules ____________________________ 48 Rule 103. Interpretation of the Rules of Procedure ____________________________ 48

Rule 104. Review of Rules ______________________________________________ 49

CHAPTER XXII: MISCELLANEOUS: __________________________ 49

Rule 105. Unfinished Business ___________________________________________ 49

CHAPTER XXIII FINAL PROVISIONS _________________________ 49

Rule 106. Entry into force _______________________________________________ 49

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES ________ 50

I. COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, WATER RESOURCES AND

RURAL DEVELOPMENT ________________________________________________ 50 II. COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. ____________ 51

III. COMMITTEE ON LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT, YOUTH, SPORTS AND

CULTURE. _____________________________________________________________ 51

IV. COMMITTEE ON GENDER, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL

PROTECTION __________________________________________________________ 52 V. COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY, MINES AND INDUSTRY ___ 52

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VI. COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS, PEACE, SECURITY AND AFRICAN

PEER REVIEW MECHANISM _____________________________________________ 53 VII. COMMITTEE ON TRADE, CUSTOMS AND FREE MOVEMENT ____________ 54 VIII. COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS _____________________ 55 IX. COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY _ 56 X. COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, BUDGET CONTROL AND

AUDITS _______________________________________________________________ 56 XI. COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC POLICIES, PRIVATE SECTOR AND NEPAD __ 56 XII. COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES ____________________ 57 XIII. COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROTECTION OF THE CHILD AND

OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS __________________________________________ 57

ANNEXE II _________________________________________________ 59

DECISION A/DEC.6/01/06 OF THE AUTHORITY HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF 12TH JUNE 2006 RELATING TO THE MODALITIES FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 6 OF PROTOCOL A/P.2/8/94, RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY PARLIAMENT _______________________________________________ 59

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IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POWERS CONFERRED ON IT BY THE

PROTOCOL, THE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT, DURING ITS SITTING ON 8 FEBRUARY 2016 HEREBY ADOPTS THE FOLLOWING RULES OF PROCEDURE:

CHAPTER I: DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of these Rules, Authority means the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Community established by Article 7 of the Treaty; Bureau means the Bureau of Parliament established under Article 16 of the Protocol. Conference of Bureaux the organ of Parliament comprising the Speaker, Chairmen or Vice-Chairmen and the Rapporteurs of each of the Standing Committees. Chairman means the current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Community, elected in accordance with the provisions of Article 8.2 of the Treaty; The Commission means the Commission of the Community established under Article 17 of the Treaty; Committee of the whole means a Committee composed of the whole body of Members of Parliament to transact a specific business during a sitting. Committee of Selection means the Committee constituted at the beginning of any Legislature by the Plenary to assist the Bureau in composing Members of each Standing Committee and to assist in other related matters; Committee Bureaux means the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Rapporteurs of a Standing Committee. Community means the Economic Community of West African States referred to under Article 2 of the Treaty; Council means the Council of Ministers of the Community established under Article 10 of the Treaty; Community Citizen means any national of a Member State who satisfies the conditions stipulated in the Protocol defining Community citizenship; Court of Justice means the Court of Justice of the Community established under Article 15 of the Treaty;

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General Convention on Privileges and Immunities means the General Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the Economic Community of West African States and includes the Headquarters Agreement signed between the Parliament and the Host Country; Host Country means the Country hosting the Seat of the ECOWAS Parliament; Member State means a Member State of the Community as defined in paragraph 2 Article 2 of the Treaty; Parliament means the ECOWAS Parliament in accordance with new Article 3 of the Treaty; The Plenary means the highest body of the Parliament composed of all Parliamentarians in general assembly; President means the President of the Commission appointed in accordance with the provisions of Article 18 of the Treaty; Protocol means Protocol A/P2/8/94 and its amendments as contained in Supplementary Protocol A/SP.3/06/06 relating to the Community Parliament; Representative means a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament; Secretary-General means the officer heading the Secretariat of the Parliament and appointed in accordance with New Article 16 of the Supplementary Protocol and these Rules; Session means the period during which Parliament meets to transact business for an approved number of weeks; Speaker means the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament elected to conduct its business in accordance with new Article 15 of the Supplementary Protocol; Supplementary Protocol means Protocol A/SP.3/06/06 amending Protocol A/P.2/8/94 relating to the Community Parliament; Third Country means any State other than a Member State. Treaty means the revised Treaty adopted in Cotonou on 21st July 1993, and includes any subsequent amendments thereto.

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CHAPTER II: ECOWAS PARLIAMENT

Rule 1. Definition and Composition

1. The ECOWAS Parliament is the Assembly elected pursuant to Article 7 of Protocol A/P.2/8/94 relating to the Community Parliament.

2. The Parliament shall be composed of Members elected by the National Assemblies of Member States or their equivalent institutions until otherwise directed by the Authority.

3. The Members of the Parliament shall be known as “Representatives” or “Members”.

Rule 2. Competence of the Parliament and implementation procedure

1. The Parliament shall have the mandate as specified under Article 6 of the Protocol.

2. The modalities for implementing its mandate are as contained in Decision A/Dec.6/01/06 of the Authority attached in Annex II of these Rules

3. In carrying out its mandate, the Parliament shall be guided by the provisions of the Treaty, Protocols, Decisions, and Regulations of the Community and these Rules of Procedure.

Rule 3. Nature of Mandate

1. A Representative shall exercise his mandate independently.

2. A Representative shall not be bound by any instructions and shall not receive a binding mandate.

3. Until elections can be organized by direct universal suffrage the Representatives of ECOWAS Parliament shall be elected by their National Parliaments. The Representatives shall be the Representatives of all the Peoples of the Community.

4. Each Representative of Parliament shall be obliged to take part in the work of the Parliament.

Rule 4. Duration of Parliamentary Mandate

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1. The duration of the mandate of the Representative shall be for a period of four (4) years and it shall begin and end as laid down in Article 7.2(1) of the Protocol.

2. The Representative who has taken oath shall remain a Member and shall not be replaced or dismissed so long as he/she remains a Member of his/her National Parliament.

3. It shall also end on death or resignation.

4. Any dispute concerning the validity of the appointment of a Representative whose credentials have already been verified shall be referred to the Committee responsible, which shall report to Parliament without delay but no later than the beginning of the next Session.

5. Parliament shall reserve the right, where acceptance or termination of office appears to be based on material inaccuracy or vitiated consent, to declare the appointment under consideration to be invalid or refuse to establish the vacancy.

Rule 5. Verification of Credentials

1. On the basis of a Report by the Secretary General, Parliament shall verify the credentials without delay and rule on the validity of the mandate of each of its newly elected Representatives and also on any disputes referred to it pursuant to the provisions of the Treaty, except those based on national electoral laws.

2. The Secretary General’s Report shall be based on the official notification by each Member State of the full results of the election specifying the names of the candidates elected and those of their alternates in accordance with the results of the vote.

3. The Secretary General shall ensure that any information which may affect the performance of the duties of a Representative or their alternates is forwarded without delay to Parliament by the authorities of the Member States, with an indication of the date of effect where an appointment is concerned.

4. Until such time as a Representative’s credentials have been verified or a ruling has been given on any dispute, the Representative shall take his seat in Parliament and on its bodies and shall enjoy all the rights attaching thereto.

Rule 6. Attendance of Representatives at Sittings and Votes

1. An Attendance Register shall be laid open for signature by Representatives at each Plenary and Committee sitting.

2. The names of Representatives present, as shown in the Attendance Register, shall be recorded in the Minutes of each sitting.

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3. In the event of a Roll-Call Vote the Minutes shall record the names of Representatives who took part in the vote and how they voted.

Rule 7. Privileges and Immunities

In addition to provisions of Article 9 of the Protocol;

1. Representatives shall enjoy privileges and immunities in accordance with the General Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the Community and the Headquarters Agreement signed between the Community and the Host Country.

2. A Representative shall be entitled to access any files in the custody of Parliament or a Committee, other than personal files and accounts of other Representatives and Staff.

3. The Community Diplomatic Laissez-Passer shall be issued to each Representative, as soon as he assumes office.

Rule 8. Waiver of Immunity

1. Parliament shall have the power to waive the immunity of Representatives in accordance with these Rules of Procedure.

2. No Representative may be prosecuted, pursued, detained or judged on account of opinion or votes cast by him in the exercise of his mandate.

3. No Representative may be arrested on a criminal or correctional charge while Parliament is in Session without the authorization of the Parliament, except where the Representative is found in the act of committing an offence.

4. No Representative may be arrested outside Session without the authorization of the Bureau, except where the Representative is found in the act of committing an offence or a definitive sentence.

5. The Parliament may, through a two-thirds majority vote, request from the competent authority, the suspension of a detention order on or a suit against a Representative.

6. Any request addressed to the Speaker by the appropriate authority of a Member State that the immunity of a Representative be waived shall be announced in Parliament and referred to the Committee responsible.

7. The Committee shall consider such requests without delay and in the order in which they have been submitted.

8. The Committee may ask from the authority which has submitted the request to provide any information or explanation which the Committee deems necessary for it to form an opinion on whether immunity should be waived. The

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Representative concerned shall be heard at his request; he/she may bring any documents or other written evidence he deems relevant. He may be represented or assisted by another Representative.

9. The Committee's Report shall contain a proposal for a decision which simply recommends the adoption or rejection of the request for the waiver of immunity.

10. However, where the request seeks the waiver of immunity on several counts, each of these may be the subject of a separate proposal for a decision.

11. The Committee's Report may, exceptionally, propose that the waiver of immunity shall apply solely to prosecution proceedings and that, until a final sentence is passed, the Representative should be immune from any form of detention or remand or any other measure which prevents him/her from performing the duties properly to his/her mandate.

12. Where the request for the waiver of immunity entails the possibility of obliging the Representative to appear as a witness or expert witness thereby depriving him/her of his freedom, the Committee shall:-

a. ascertain, before proposing that immunity be waived, that the Representative will not be obliged to appear on a date or at a time which prevents him from performing, or makes it difficult for him to perform his parliamentary duties, or that he will be able to provide a statement in writing or in any other form which does not make it difficult for him to fulfil his parliamentary obligations;

b. seek clarification regarding the subject of the statement, in order to ensure

that the Representative is not obliged to testify concerning information obtained confidentially in the exercise of his/her mandate which he/she does not see fit to disclose.

13. The Committee shall not, under any circumstances, pronounce on the guilt or otherwise of the Representative or on whether or not the opinions or acts attributed to him justify prosecution, even if, in considering the request, it acquires detailed knowledge of the facts of the case.

14. The Report of the Committee shall be placed at the top of the agenda of the First Sitting following the day on which it was tabled.

a. No amendment may be tabled to the proposal(s) for a decision.

b. Discussion shall be confined to the reasons for or against each proposal to waive or uphold immunity.

c. The proposal(s) for a decision contained in the Report shall be put to the vote at the first voting time following the debate.

d. After Parliament has considered the matter, an individual vote shall be taken on each of the proposals contained in the Report. If any of the proposals are rejected, it is deemed not to be adopted.

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15. The Speaker shall immediately communicate Parliament's decision to the appropriate Authority of the Member State concerned, with a request, if immunity is waived, that he should be informed of any judicial rulings made as a consequence.

16. When the Speaker receives this information, he shall transmit it to Parliament in the way he considers most appropriate.

17. The Speaker shall ensure that recourse is had to this right where the aim of the arrest or prosecution is to make the Representative appear as a witness or expert witness against his will, without his immunity having been waived beforehand.

Rule 9. Instruments of Office

1. Representatives shall wear label pins at public ceremonies whenever they are on

mission and whenever they are invited by virtue of their offices.

2. Representatives shall also be issued with parliamentary cards, badges and rosettes.

3. The type of label pin, sashes, card, badges and rosettes shall be determined by the Bureau of Parliament.

Rule 10. Refunds and Allowances

1. Every Representative shall be entitled to : a. Allowances as determined by the Authority b. Refund of the expenses incurred.

2. The Bureau shall determine, modalities governing the payment of allowances and refund of the expenses to Representatives. The modalities shall be consistent with the Community Financial Regulations.

Rule 11. Resignations and Vacation of Seat

1. A Representative who intends to resign from the Parliament shall by letter notify the Speaker through the Speaker of his or her national Parliament.

2. The Speaker shall notify Plenary which may forward the matter to the appropriate Committee.

3. Otherwise, the vacancy shall be established with effect from the date indicated by the resigning Representative in the official records.

4. Incompatibilities resulting from national legislation by virtue of Article 12 of the Protocol shall be notified to Parliament, which shall take note thereof.

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5. Where the competent authorities of the Member State notify the Speaker of appointments to an office incompatible with the office of a Representative of the Parliament, the Speaker shall inform Parliament, which shall establish that there is a vacancy of the seat.

6. The following shall be considered as the date of the end of the term of office and the effective date of a vacancy:

a. In the event of resignation: the date on which the vacancy is established by Parliament, the date on which the Speaker receives the letter of resignation or any other date, but not earlier, specified in the notification of resignation;

b. In the event of appointment to an office incompatible with the office of a Representative of the ECOWAS Parliament, either in respect of national electoral law, or in respect of any Article of the Protocol, the date notified by the competent authorities of the Member State.

7. When Parliament has established that a vacancy exists, it shall inform the Parliament of the Member State concerned thereof in order that appropriate measures can be taken regarding the vacancy.

Rule 12. Code of Conduct

1. Parliament may lay down a code of conduct for its Representatives which shall form an integral part of these Rules of Procedure. The code shall not in any way prejudice or restrict a Representative in the exercise of his office or of any political or other activity relating thereto.

2. However, no Representative may exploit or use his office for personal benefit in financial, industrial or commercial enterprises or in the exercise of liberal or other professions; generally a Representative may not use his title for reasons other than required in the discharge of his duties.

CHAPTER III: SESSIONS OF PARLIAMENT:

Rule 13. Inaugural Session

1. The First Session of a new Legislature shall be known also as the “Inaugural Session”.

2. The President shall at least three months prior to the end of each Legislature request Member States to elect their Representatives and submit their dossiers containing names, photographs and curriculum vitae of their Representatives to the ECOWAS Commission in conformity with procedure laid down in the Protocol.

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3. The Inaugural Session shall be convened by the current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government upon receipt of at least ¾ of the names of Representatives.

4. Once he/she receives three-quarters of the names of Representatives notified to him by the States, the President of the Commission shall inform the Chairman of the Authority who shall in turn take the necessary steps to convene the Parliament.

5. At the commencement of each Inaugural Session, the Oldest Member shall be the Presiding Member and shall inform the Parliament that the Chairman of Authority through the President of the Commission has communicated to the Secretary General the names of their Representatives as well as their Alternates. He shall then direct that the names be posted immediately on the notice board and also be published in the Official Journal of the Community and the Newsletter of the Parliament.

6. The Oldest Representative shall be the oldest in age among the Representatives. Where two or more Representatives qualify by age to be the oldest Members the title shall be attributed in alphabetical order of surnames.

7. No business shall be transacted while the oldest Representative is in the Chair unless it is concerned with the election of the Speaker or the Verification of Credentials.

8. If a question relating to the verification of credentials is raised when the Oldest Representative is in the Chair, he shall refer the matter to the Secretary General for the verification of credentials.

9. The Oldest Member shall be assisted in his/her work as Presiding Member during the sitting by the Youngest Member and the Secretary General.

Rule 14. Ordinary Sessions

1. Parliament shall hold two Ordinary Sessions every year for a period which shall not exceed three months, for each Session. Except for exceptional circumstances, the First Session shall open in the first half of May and the Second shall be held in the second half of September.

2. The budget of the Parliament shall be considered at the second Session.

Rule 15. Extraordinary Session

1. Parliament may meet in extraordinary Sessions to discuss a given agenda

a. on the initiative of the Chairman of Authority, or

b. on the initiative of the Speaker, or

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c. at the request of an absolute majority of its component Representatives

addressed to the Speaker.

2. The duration of an Extraordinary Session shall not be more than fifteen days

3. Extraordinary Sessions shall close once the agenda has been exhausted.

Rule 16. Venue of Sessions and Meetings

1. Parliament shall hold its Plenary Sessions at the seat of Parliament. Where exceptional circumstances so request and the Parliament cannot meet at its seat the Speaker after consultation with the Chairman of the Authority may convene Parliament in another consenting Member State.

2. The Bureau of the Parliament may decide to hold one or more of its meetings or those of any organ of Parliament elsewhere within the Community.

CHAPTER IV: STRUCTURES OF THE PARLIAMENT:

Rule 17. Governing Bodies

1. The Parliament shall have political and administrative wings.

2. The structures of the political wings are as follows :

a. The Plenary

b. The Bureau

c. The Conference of Bureaux

Rule 18. The Plenary

1. The Plenary shall be the highest body and its decisions shall be binding on other structures of the Parliament.

2. As an advisory Parliament, the plenary advises the Institutions of the Community through its Resolutions upon request or at its own initiative.

3. The Plenary can upon a request of at least one third of its Members transform itself into a Committee of the whole to consider a specific agenda item.

Rule 19. The Bureau

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1. The Bureau shall be the governing organ of the Parliament. It shall be made up of five Members as follows: a. the Speaker,

b. the First Deputy Speaker,

c. the Second Deputy Speaker

d. the Third Deputy Speaker and

e. the Fourth Deputy Speaker.

Rule 20. Election of Speaker

1. During the First Sitting of the Inaugural Session immediately after the validation

of mandate and declaration of Representatives as specified in the Protocol, the Oldest Representative shall invite Parliament to proceed to the election of its Speaker.

2. The speaker is elected for the duration of the Legislature.

3. Allocation of the position of Speaker shall be made to Member-States in line with a rotational system based on an alphabetical order of States as may be established by the Authority.

4. Where the Members from the Member-state to which the position of speaker is allocated present a consensus candidate, such candidate is confirmed as speaker by acclamation of the Parliament.

5. All Members of Parliament from the Member-State to which the position of

Speaker has been allocated will be eligible to contest the position. The House shall vote for any of these candidates that present themselves for election.

6. The Speaker shall be elected by secret ballot provided at least 2/3 Members are present. After voting is over, the youngest Representative assisted by the Secretary-General Shall count the votes. The candidate with more than fifty per cent of votes cast shall be declared elected.

7. Where no candidate obtains fifty per cent of the votes cast, the two candidates with the highest number of votes will proceed to a second ballot. The candidate with the highest number of votes in the second ballot shall be declared duly elected.

8. As soon as the Speaker has been elected, the oldest Member shall invite him to

take his seat and hand over the gavel which is the symbol of authority. Thereafter, The Speaker takes the chair and delivers an address to the plenary.

Rule 21. Election of Deputy Speakers

1. The Deputy Speakers shall also be elected at the commencement of each new

Parliament for the tenure of the Legislature in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

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2. A candidate for a position of Deputy Speaker shall submit its notice to contest to

the Secretary-General not later than three hours before the time set for the opening of each ballot.

Rule 22. Qualifications for and Election of Deputy Speakers

1. The election of Deputy Speakers shall be open to all Members of Parliament in

such a manner as would ensure equitable distribution to Member States and gender balance.

2. A candidate may withdraw his candidature at any time before the ballot, in writing or by any other appropriate means. The withdrawal in writing shall be notified to the Parliament through the Secretary-General. The Speaker after receiving notification of any withdrawal shall announce same.

3. The Speaker shall direct that ballot papers bearing the names or the list of candidates shall be distributed among Representatives before voting. The candidate with the highest number of votes shall be declared elected and will be ranked according to votes they obtained.

4. In the event of an equality of votes the 2 candidates with the highest number of votes will proceed to a run-off. The candidate with the highest number of votes in the run-off will be declared elected.

5. In the event of a single candidacy resulting from a consensus, the Parliament shall confirm the election by acclamation.

6. Any seat or seats falling vacant at any time shall be filled by the same procedure under these Rules.

7. The Speaker shall inform the President of the Commission of the election of the Bureau Members.

8. The Speaker shall invite the President to the First Meeting of the Bureau.

Rule 23. Terms of Office of the Members of the Bureau

1. The term of office of the Members of the Bureau shall be four years.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 above, Parliament may, on the basis of the Report of a Special Committee, remove the Speaker or any Deputy Speaker by a vote of two-thirds majority of the Members, for serious shortcomings in the management of the affairs of the Parliament or in the pursuit of the aims and objectives of the Community.

3. The Special Committee referred to in paragraph 2 above may be set up at the request of a Parliamentary Group or at least twenty (20) Representatives. The

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decision to set up the Special Committee shall be approved by a simple majority of the Representatives.

4. When a Representative changes Parliamentary Group he shall retain, for the remainder of his term of office, any seat he holds in the Bureau.

5. Should a vacancy for one of these positions occur before the expiry of his term, the Representative elected shall serve only for the remaining period of his predecessor's term of office.

Rule 24. Functions of the Bureau

The Bureau of Parliament shall discharge the following functions:

1. Determine with the Conference of Committees Bureaux and the Speaker, the draft agenda and all programs or business of the Session, taking into account the approved Community programs.

2. Authorize meetings, hearings, fact finding and study tours of Committees away from the headquarters.

3. Determine with the assistance of the Selection Committee the composition of the Standing Committees. In carrying out this assignment, due regard shall be given to linguistic, gender balance and nationality.

4. Subject to the provisions of the Treaty regarding the mandate of the Council, the Bureau shall:

a. Maintain at all times a structure that clearly enhances the synergy between the political and the administrative wings of Parliament

b. Issue general guidelines and policy directions for the management and administration of the affairs and facilities of the Parliament and its organs, in accordance with Community rules.

c. Regulate the procedures relating to the internal organization of the Parliament and its organs in accordance with Community rules.

d. Be responsible for prescribing guidelines for the annual budgets within the limits set out by the President of the Commission.

e. Consider the draft budget and present it to the appropriate Committee.

f. Appoint the Secretary General and the Directors and approve the appointment of professional staff on the recommendation of the relevant Advisory Committee on recruitment.

g. Undertake any other functions as may be prescribed by the Plenary and consistent with Community texts.

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Rule 25. Duties of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers

1. The Speaker shall be the Presiding Officer of any Body to which he is a Member except where otherwise provided for in the Protocol or these Rules. In this regard the Speaker shall:

a. Preside over all proceedings of Plenary, Bureau and Conference of Bureaux.

b. In his absence or where he wishes to participate in a debate, a Deputy Speaker in their order of precedence takes over.

c. Open, suspend or close the sitting of the Parliament

d. Determine the admissibility or otherwise of papers brought to the Parliament

e. Follow up on the implementation of the decisions of the Bureau and Parliament

f. Represent Parliament in relations with National Parliaments, regional parliaments, Inter-Parliamentary Institutions, International Organizations, ECOWAS Institutions and Third Parties.

g. Appoint on the recommendation of the Secretary General, locally recruited personnel in conformity with the ECOWAS Staff Regulations.

h. Be the Chief Authorizing officer of the budget of the Parliament and may designate financial management to the Secretary General in line with the Financial Regulations of the Community.

4. At the expiration of the life of the Legislature, the outgoing Speaker ceases to be the Chief Authorizing Officer of the Parliament in accordance with the financial regulations of the Community, he shall however continue to carry out Ceremonial Duties until the election of a new Speaker.

5. The election of a new speaker is conducted as stated in Rule 20 of these Rules of Procedure.

Rule 26. Vacancies

1. The Office of the Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall become vacant;

a. On the expiration of his term of Office, b. On his resignation, c. On his death, d. Where he is proven to be medically impaired, e. On removal from office.

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2. Should the Speaker’s seat become vacant, the First Deputy Speaker shall act as Speaker until a new Speaker is elected for a maximum of 3 months.

Rule 27. Conference of Bureaux

The Conference of Bureaux shall comprise:

a. the Speaker,

b. The Chairmen or Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committees ;and

c. the Rapporteurs of each of the Standing Committees.

Rule 28. Duties of Conference of Bureaux

The Conference of Bureaux shall:

1. Be the organ of Parliament that shall collectively represent all Committees.

2. Work with the Bureau to prepare the Strategic Plan and the draft Annual Work-Program of Parliament taking into account the priority Community programmes and work-programs of other Community Institutions.

3. Collaborate with the Bureau to organize the work-programs of the Standing Committees in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and the Terms of Reference of the Committees.

4. Work in close collaboration with the national and other regional parliaments.

5. Be chaired by the Speaker who shall convene all meetings of the said Conference.

CHAPTER V: COMMITTEES OF PARLIAMENT:

Rule 29. Committee of Selection

1. At the beginning of the life of each Legislature, the Plenary shall constitute a Committee to be called the “Committee on Selection” whose main function will be to assist the Bureau in selecting Members of each of the Standing Committees. For the composition of the Committee on Selection, each national representation shall nominate one Representative. In the discharge of its functions the Committee shall pay particular attention to equity on the basis of linguistic, gender and nationality.

2. The Committee on selection stands dissolved immediately the standing Committees are put in place.

Rule 30. Standing Committees

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The Standing Committees shall be as follows:-

i. Agriculture, Environment, Water Resources and Rural Development

ii. Education, Science and Technology

iii. Labour, Employment, Youth and Culture

iv. Gender, Women Empowerment and Social Protection

v. Infrastructure, Energy, Mines and Industry

vi. Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)

vii. Trade, Customs and Free Movement

viii. Legal and Judicial Affairs

ix. Communications and Information Technology

x. Administration, Finance, Budget Control and Audits

xi. Economic Policies, Private Sector and NEPAD

xii. Committee on Health and Social Services

xiii. Committee on Human Rights, Protection of the Child and Vulnerable

Groups.

Rule 31. Composition of Committees

1. The Committee of Selection shall propose the composition of Standing Committees to the Bureau, using an approved set of criteria.

2. The Speaker shall submit to the Plenary for approval the draft list of Members of the Standing Committees. The composition of the Committees shall, as far as possible, ensure an equitable distribution among national representations and Parliamentary Groups.

3. Amendment of the list so presented may be tabled by at least five (5) Representatives. Parliament shall vote on such amendments.

4. Members shall be deemed to be elected on the basis of the proposals by the Committee of Selection or pursuant to paragraph 3 above.

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5. A Standing Committee shall comprise at least seven (7) Members and at the most ten (10) Members.

6. The Speaker shall not be a Member of any Committee; he may however attend any Sitting of any Committee but without voting rights.

7. Members of the Bureau may be Members of Committees but shall not be Members of the Bureaux of any Committees.

8. After Parliament has approved the composition of the Members of Standing Committees, it shall be the duty of the Speaker to convene the First Meeting of the Committee for the purposes of selecting their Bureaux which shall comprise the following for each Standing Committee:

a. One Chairperson b. One Vice-Chairperson c. First Rapporteur d. Second Rapporteur

Rule 32. Functions of Standing Committees

1. A Standing Committee shall examine and make recommendations on all matters within its competence or relating to the Community which have been referred to it.

2. A standing Committee shall have power to call upon the President to make available any staff of the community to make presentations before it.

3. A Committee on its own initiative and with the approval of Parliament may carry out activities aimed at enhancing the purposes for which it was set up.

4. Should a Standing Committee declare itself not competent to consider a matter, or should a conflict arise over the competence of two or more Standing Committees, the question of competence shall be placed on the agenda of the plenary on a proposal from the Conference of Bureaux or at the request of one of the Standing Committees concerned.

5. Should two or more Standing Committees be competent to deal with a question, Parliament may: a. name one Committee as the Committee responsible and the other

as Committee asked for opinions.

b. set up a Joint Committee.

6. A matter shall not, however, be referred simultaneously to more than three Committees, unless it is decided for sound reasons to depart from this Rule.

7. At the request of a Committee, the Bureau may establish a study or a fact-finding mission.

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8. A standing Committee shall report to the plenary.

Rule 33. Special Committees

1. Parliament may constitute Special Committees on specific matters. The Special Committees are:

i. Committee of Selection

ii. Ad Hoc Committees

iii. Committee of the whole

2. A Special Committee shall have a stated purpose, mission and duration.

3. The membership of an ad hoc Committee is presented by the speaker to the Plenary for approval. However, where necessary and in response to pressing emergencies during the intersession, the Speaker can set up an ad hoc Committee, in consultation with the Bureau, and inform the Parliament at its next Session.

Rule 34. Joint Committees

Parliament may set up Joint Committees comprising Members of several standing Committees when necessary to study issues of relevance to the Committees.

Rule 35. Participation and Voting

1. A Representative may attend Sittings of Committees and take part in their debates. Only a Committee Member can vote.

2. No Representative may be a substantive Member of more than one Standing Committee.

Rule 36. Attendance, Vacancies and Resignations

1. Members shall attend all meetings of the Committee to which they are assigned.

2. Any Member who is absent without good reason from three consecutive meetings of a Committee may be sanctioned by the Bureau upon a report from the chairperson of the Committee concerned.

3. In the event of a vacancy in a Committee, interested Parliamentary Groups or National Representatives shall submit the names of replacements to the

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Speaker. They shall be selected in accordance with the procedure set out in these Rules of Procedure.

Rule 37. Convening of Committee Meetings

1. A Committee shall meet at the instance of its Chairman in consultation with the Speaker of Parliament.

2. Committees may, exceptionally, meet on the spot to examine an issue, opinion, or a draft presented during discussions in Parliament.

3. The President shall be kept informed of the agenda of Committee meetings.

4. The President or his representative shall attend and may take the floor at Committee meetings.

Rule 38. Validity of decisions

1. Committees may deliberate irrespective of the number of Committee Members present, however half the number of Members plus one must be present for their votes to be valid.

2. If a quorum is not achieved, a meeting shall be suspended for one hour to enable the Chairman take measures to form a quorum.

3. A vote taken when the meeting resumes shall be valid if one-third of the number of voters take part in the voting.

4. Decisions of Committees shall be taken by a majority of votes cast.

5. Voting shall be by secret ballot where it is requested by a two-third of Committee Members present.

6. Committee Reports and opinions shall be distributed to Representatives at least 24 hours before the Plenary Session begins.

Rule 39. Committees of Parliamentary Enquiry

1. Parliament may, through a Resolution passed by a simple majority of the Representatives, set up a Committee of Enquiry at the request of a Parliamentary Group or at least twenty Representatives.

2. A Committee of enquiry shall be set up to investigate the facts of a pertinent issue and shall submit their findings to Parliament.

3. The mission of a Committee of Enquiry shall be of a temporary nature, and shall end with the submission of its report.

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4. Members of Committees of Enquiry, and all others involved in or present at

deliberations of the Committees are bound by the Rules of Confidentiality.

5. Parliament alone is competent to decide by a Special Vote whether part or all of a Committee Report may be published.

CHAPTER VI: PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS:

Rule 40. Formation of Parliamentary Groups

1. Representatives may form themselves into Groups according to their political leanings and affinities.

2. A Parliamentary Group must comprise Representatives from more than one Member State and from as many Members States as possible.

3. The minimum number of Representatives required to form a parliamentary group shall be fifteen (15).

4. A Representative shall not belong to more than one Parliamentary Group.

5. Each Parliamentary Group shall be provided with a secretariat.

6. The Speaker shall be notified in writing when a Parliamentary Group is set up. This notice shall specify the name of the Group, its Members and its Bureau.

7. The statement shall be published in the Bulletin of the Parliament. 8. The status and rights of the Parliamentary Groups shall be defined by the Plenary

upon a proposal by the Bureau. 9. The Parliament shall bear the running costs of the Parliamentary Groups.

Rule 41. Non-attached Representatives

1. Representatives who do not belong to a parliamentary group shall be known as non-attached Representatives.

2. The Bureau shall also determine the status and parliamentary rights of such Representatives upon a proposal by the Bureau.

Rule 42. Allocation of seats in the Chamber

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The Secretary General shall decide how seats in the Chamber are to be allocated in accordance with criteria established by the Bureau.

CHAPTER VII: ORGANIZATION OF THE BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Rule 43. Draft Agenda for each Session

1. The Speaker shall, prior to the commencement of each Session, except the Inaugural Session of the New Parliament convene a meeting of the Conference of Bureaux for the purpose of drawing up the order of business of the ensuing Session.

2. The President shall be invited to the Conference of Bureaux. He may delegate his power to a Commissioner if he is unable to be present at the Conference.

3. The Draft Agenda so compiled by the Conference shall be distributed among Representatives before the commencement of the Session.

4. At all times, sufficient copies of the draft Agenda and any other relevant Papers for Parliament shall be taken to the President.

Rule 44. Adopting and Amending the Agenda

1. At the beginning of each Session, Parliament shall take a decision on the final draft Agenda. Amendments may be proposed by a Committee, a parliamentary group or at least ten (10) Members. Any such proposals must be received by the Speaker at least one hour before the First Sitting of the Session. The Speaker may give the floor to the mover, one speaker in favour and one speaker against. The maximum speaking time shall be one minute.

2. Once adopted, the agenda may not be amended, except in pursuance of Rules 68 to 72 and 74 of these Rules of Procedure or on a proposal from the Speaker.

3. If a procedural motion to amend the agenda is rejected, it may not be tabled again during the same Session.

4. Before closing the sitting, the Speaker shall announce the date, time and agenda of the next sitting.

Rule 45. Agenda for the Inaugural Sitting of the New Parliament

1. Fourteen days prior to the commencement of the First Sitting of the Inaugural Session, the Secretary General shall compile the list of all Members-elect as submitted by the National Parliaments duly signed by their Speakers.

2. The list of Members elect shall be compiled for the purposes of examination of credentials by the Committee responsible and also for identifying the Oldest Representative and the Youngest Representative for the First Sitting. The list

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shall at all times be used as a source of relevant information about all Representatives of Parliament.

3. At the commencement of the day of the First Sitting of the Inaugural Session Parliament shall proceed with the following Order of Business or Proceedings, which shall have been prepared by the General Secretariat in consultation with the President.

a. Roll Call of Members of Parliament by the Secretary General b. Oath taking by Members in the presence of the Chairman of Authority or his

representative c. The written declaration duly signed by each Member of Parliament shall be

submitted Intuitu Personae (in person) to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government,

d. Installation of the interim Bureau (oldest and youngest member) e. Election of the Speaker of Parliament f. Presentation of the Symbol of Authority to the Speaker-elect by the Oldest

Member (the oldest Member retires to his seat) g. Address by Speaker of Parliament h. Setting up of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Rules of Procedure the

membership of which shall comprise a Representative from each Member State

i. Election of Deputy Speakers j. Setting up of Committee on Selection the membership of which shall comprise

a Representative from each Member State

Rule 46. Sequence of Proceedings on Order Paper

1. The Secretary-General shall prepare the Order Paper setting out the Sequence of Proceedings and Order of Business for every Sitting. The Order Paper shall be circulated among Representatives at least two hours before every Sitting.

2. By leave of the Speaker the Order of Business set out on the Order Paper for the Sitting may be altered during the Sitting.

3. Any item of business standing on the Order paper on any particular day which has not been completed or reached on the interruption of business under the pertinent provision of these Rules shall be placed on the Order Paper for the next Sitting day in such order as the Speaker may determine.

4. The proceedings of the House shall, where applicable, be conducted in the following sequence or order:

a. Opportunity for silent prayer or meditation. b. Roll-Call of Members c. Taking of Oath d. Statement by the Chairman e. Election of Speaker and or Deputy Speakers f. Address or Message by Chairman of Community g. Ceremonial Speeches h. Correction of Votes and Proceedings and Official Reports (Hansard)

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i. Statements by Council of Ministers, ECOWAS Commission Members and representatives

j. Questions to Officials of the Community k. Complaints of contempt of Parliament l. Presentation of Petitions m. Presentation of Papers n. Presentations of Referrals from ECOWAS Commission o. Motions.

CHAPTER VIII: GENERAL RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF SITTINGS

Rule 47. Access to the Chamber

1. No person may enter the Chamber except Members of Parliament, Members of the Council, Secretary General, Staff of the Parliament, Members of Staff of the ECOWAS Commission whose duties require their presence there, and experts or officials of the Community.

2. Only holders of official admission cards shall be admitted to the galleries.

3. Members of the public or strangers admitted to the galleries shall remain seated and silent. Any person expressing open approval or disapproval shall immediately be ejected by the Sergeant-at-arms.

Rule 48. Languages

1. All working documents of Parliament shall be prepared in the official languages of the Community.

2. Speeches delivered in one of the official languages shall be simultaneously interpreted into the other official languages.

Rule 49. Distribution of Documents

1. Documents forming the basis for Parliament's debates and decisions shall be printed and distributed to Representatives at least 24 hours before the next sitting. A list of these documents shall be published in the Minutes or Votes and Proceedings of the Sitting.

2. Without prejudice to the application of the first paragraph, Representatives and Parliamentary Groups shall have direct access to the Parliament's non-confidential documents.

Rule 50. Calling Speakers and Content of Speeches

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1. A Representative shall not speak unless called upon to do so by the Speaker. A Representative shall speak from his place or any other place arranged for that purpose and shall address the Chair.

2. If a Representative departs from the subject, the Speaker shall call him to order. If he has already been called to order twice in the same debate, the Speaker may, on the third occasion, forbid him to speak for the remainder of the debate on the same subject.

3. Without prejudice to his other disciplinary powers, the Speaker may cause to be deleted from the reports of debates of Sittings the speeches of a Representative who has not been called upon to speak by him or who continues to speak beyond the time allotted to him.

4. A speaker may not be interrupted except by the Speaker or a Representative on a point of Order by leave of the Speaker.

Rule 51. Allocation of Speaking Time

The Speaker shall propose to Parliament that speaking time be allocated for a particular debate. Parliament shall decide on this proposal without debate.

Rule 52. List of Speakers

1. A Representative may not speak unless invited by the Speaker in accordance with his list of speakers and in the order in which their requests are received.

2. The Speaker shall call a Representative to speak, ensuring as far as possible that speakers of different political views and languages are heard in turn.

3. On request, however, priority may be given to the Rapporteur of the Committee Responsible or to the Chairman of a Parliamentary Group who wish to speak on behalf of their Groups, or to speakers deputizing for them.

4. A Representative may not speak more than twice on the same subject, except by leave of the Speaker. The Chairman and the Rapporteur of the Committee concerned shall, however, be allowed to speak at their request for a period to be decided by the Speaker.

5. Members of the Committees shall be heard in the debate on a report as a rule immediately after its presentation by the Rapporteur. Thereafter, Members of the ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS Council of Ministers shall be heard at their request.

Rule 53. Personal Statements

1. A Representative who requests to make a personal statement shall be heard at the end of the discussion of the item of the agenda being dealt with or when the

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Minutes of the Sitting to which the request for leave to speak are considered for approval.

2. The Representative concerned may not speak on substantive matters but shall confine his observations to rebutting any remarks that have been made about his person in the course of the debate or opinions that have been attributed to him, or to correcting observations that he himself has made.

3. Unless Parliament decides otherwise, no Personal Statement shall last for more than three minutes.

CHAPTER IX: DISCIPLINE:

Rule 54. Order in the Chamber

1. The Speaker shall call to order any Representative who creates a disturbance during the proceedings.

2. Should the offence be repeated, the Speaker shall again call the Representative to order, and the fact shall be recorded in the minutes of proceedings.

3. If a further offence is committed, the Speaker may exclude the offender from the Chamber for the remainder of the sitting. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall see to it that this disciplinary measure is carried out immediately, with the assistance if necessary, of Parliament's Security Service.

Rule 55. Exclusion of Members

1. In serious cases of disorder, the Speaker may, after giving formal notice, rule, either immediately or not later than the next sitting, that Parliament pass a vote of Censure on a Representative which shall automatically involve his immediate exclusion from the Chamber and/or suspension for two to five days.

2. Plenary shall decide whether to take such disciplinary action at a time to be decided by the Speaker, which shall be either at the Sitting during which the events in question occurred or not later than the next sitting. The Representative concerned shall be entitled to be heard by Plenary before the vote. His speaking time shall not exceed five minutes.

3. A vote shall be taken without debate on the request for a disciplinary action.

Rule 56. Disturbances

Should disturbances in Parliament threaten to obstruct the Business of the House, the Speaker shall close or suspend the Sitting for a specific period to

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restore order. If he cannot make himself heard, he shall leave the Chair; this shall have the effect of suspending the Sitting. The Speaker shall reconvene the Sitting when he considers the situation to be calm.

CHAPTER X: QUORUM AND VOTING:

Rule 57. Quorum

1. Plenary may deliberate, settle its agenda and approve the minutes of proceedings, irrespective of the number of Representatives present.

2. A quorum shall exist when one third of the Representatives are present in the Chamber.

3. All votes shall be valid irrespective of the number of voters unless the Speaker, on a request made before voting has begun by at least five Representatives, establishes at the moment of voting that the quorum is not present. If the count shows that the quorum is not present, the vote shall be placed on the agenda of the next Sitting.

4. A request for the quorum to be established must be made by at least five Representatives. A request on behalf of a Parliamentary Group is not admissible.

5. When declaring the result of the vote, account must be taken, pursuant to paragraph 2 above, of all the Representatives present in the Chamber and, pursuant to paragraph 4 above, of all the Representatives who asked for the quorum to be established. The electronic voting system cannot be used for this purpose. The doors of the chamber may not be closed.

6. If the number of Representatives required to make up the quorum is not present, the Speaker shall not announce the result of the vote but shall declare that the quorum is not present.

7. Paragraph 3 above shall not apply to votes on procedural motions but only to votes on the subject matter itself.

8. Representatives who have asked for the quorum to be established shall be counted as being present within the meaning of paragraph 2 above, even if they are no longer in the Chamber.

9. If fewer than twenty (20) Representatives are present, the Speaker may rule that there is no quorum.

Rule 58. Right to Vote

1. The right to vote is a personal right.

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2. A Representative shall cast his/her vote individually and in person.

3. Voting may be by proxy. A Representative may not have more than one proxy. 4. For the proxy to be authenticated, it shall be submitted to the Speaker by the

Head of delegation.

5. Any infringement of this Rule shall be considered as a serious case of disorder as referred to in Chapter IX of these Rules of Procedure and shall have the legal consequences mentioned in these Rules.

Rule 59. Mode of voting

1. The modes of voting shall be :

a. By secret ballot

b. By show of hand,

c. By voice vote

d. By sitting and standing

e. By acclamation

f. By electronic voting

2. The result of the vote shall be recorded.

Rule 60. Voting by Roll Call

1. In addition to the cases provided for in these Rules, a vote may be taken by roll call if so requested in writing by a parliamentary group or at least five (5) Representatives. Such a request shall be submitted to the Speaker the evening before the vote unless the Speaker sets a different deadline.

2. The roll shall be called in alphabetical order, beginning with the name of a Representative drawn by lot. The Speaker shall be the last to be called to vote. Voting shall be by word of mouth and shall be expressed by "Yes", "No", or "I abstain".

3. In calculating whether a Motion has been adopted or rejected account shall be taken only of votes cast for and against. The Speaker shall confirm the result of the vote and announce it.

4. Votes shall be recorded in the Minutes of proceedings of the Sitting by Parliamentary Group in the alphabetical order of Representatives.

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Rule 61. Voting by Secret Ballot

1. In the case of personal appointments, voting shall be by secret ballot without prejudice to Rules 20, 29, 32 to 34.

2. Only ballot papers bearing the names of Representatives who have been nominated shall be taken into account in calculating the number of votes cast.

3. Voting may also be by secret ballot if requested by at least one fifth (1/5) of the Representatives. Such requests must be made before voting begins.

4. A request for a secret ballot shall take priority over a request for a vote by roll call.

5. Four Representatives chosen by lot shall count the votes cast in a secret ballot.

6. In the case of votes pursuant to paragraph 1above, candidates shall not act as tellers.

7. The names of Representatives who have taken part in a secret ballot shall be recorded in the Minutes of the Sitting at which the ballot was held.

Rule 62. Explanations of Vote

1. Once the general debate has been concluded, a Representative may give an oral explanation on the final vote for not longer than one minute or give a written explanation of no more than 200 words, which shall be included in the Verbatim Report of proceedings. Any Parliamentary Group may give an explanation of vote lasting not more than two minutes. No further requests to give explanations of vote shall be accepted once the first explanation of vote has begun.

2. Explanations of vote shall be admissible on the final vote on any subject submitted to Parliament. The term "final vote" does not prejudge the type of vote, but means the last vote on any item. Explanations of vote shall not be admissible in cases of votes on procedural matters.

3. When a Committee’s proposal or a Report is on the Agenda of Parliament pursuant to the provisions of these Rules, a Representative may submit written explanations of vote pursuant to paragraph 1 above. Explanations of vote given either orally or in writing must have a direct bearing on the text being put to the vote.

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Rule 63. Disputes on Voting

1. The Speaker shall declare votes open and closed.

2. Once the Speaker has declared a vote open, no one except the Speaker shall be allowed to speak until the vote is declared closed.

3. Points of order concerning the validity of a vote may be raised after the Speaker has declared it closed.

4. The Speaker shall declare the result of the vote.

Rule 64. Tabling and Moving Amendments

1. Any Member may table amendments for consideration in the Committee.

2. Amendments for consideration in Plenary may be tabled by the Committee Responsible, a Parliamentary Group or at least five Representatives.

3. Amendments shall be tabled in writing and signed by their authors.

4. Subject to the limitations laid down in these Rules, an amendment may seek to change any part of a text, and may be directed to deleting, adding or substituting words or figures.

5. The Speaker shall set a deadline for the tabling of amendments.

6. An amendment may be moved during the debate in plenary or in a Committee by its author or by any other Representative appointed by the author to replace him.

7. Where an amendment is withdrawn by its author, it shall fall unless immediately taken over by another Representative.

8. Amendments shall be put to the vote only after they have been printed and distributed in all the official languages, unless Plenary decides otherwise.

Rule 65. Admissibility of Amendments

1. No amendment shall be admissible if:

a. it does not directly relate to the text which it seeks to amend;

b. it is established that the wording in at least one of the official languages of the text it is sought to amend does not call for amendment; in this case, the Speaker shall seek out a suitable linguistic remedy together with those concerned.

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2. An amendment shall lapse if it is inconsistent with decisions previously taken on the text during the same vote.

3. The Speaker shall decide whether amendments are admissible.

4. The Speaker's decision pursuant to paragraph 3 concerning the admissibility of amendments is not based exclusively on the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Rule but on the provisions of the Rules in general.

CHAPTER XI: INTERRUPTIVE AND PROCEDURAL MOTIONS:

Rule 66. Procedural Motions

1. Requests to move a procedural motion shall have precedence over a request to speak, namely:

a. the inadmissibility of a matter; b. referral back to Committee; c. the closure of a debate; d. the adjournment of a debate; e. the suspension or closure of the sitting;

2. Only the following shall be heard on the above-mentioned motions in addition to the mover: one speaker in favour and one against and the Chairman or Rapporteur of the Committee Responsible.

3. Speaking time shall be determined by the Speaker.

Rule 67. Points of Order

1. A Representative may be allowed to speak to draw the attention of the Speaker to any failure to respect Parliament's Rules of Procedure. The Representative shall first specify to which Rule he is referring.

2. A request to raise a point of order shall take precedence over all other requests to speak.

3. Speaking time shall not exceed three minute.

4. The Speaker shall take an immediate decision on points of order in accordance with these Rules and shall announce his ruling immediately after the point of order has been raised. No vote shall be taken on the Speakers decision.

5. Exceptionally, he may state that he will announce his ruling later, but not more than twenty-four hours after the point of order was raised. The postponement of

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the ruling shall not result in the adjournment of the debate on other matters. The Speaker may refer the matter to the appropriate Committee.

Rule 68. Moving the Inadmissibility of a Matter

1. At the beginning of the debate on a specific item on the agenda, its inadmissibility may be moved. Such a motion shall be put to the vote immediately.

2. If the motion is carried, Parliament shall immediately proceed to the next item on the agenda.

Rule 69. Referral Back to Committee

1. Referral back to Committee may be requested by a Parliamentary Group or at least five (5) Representatives

a. when the agenda is fixed b. before the start of the debate or c. during the final vote.

2. A request may be made only once at each of these three procedural stages.

3. Referral back to Committee shall entail suspension of the discussion of the item.

4. Parliament may set a time limit within which the Committee shall report its conclusions.

Rule 70. Joint Debate

The Speaker may decide at any time to allow similar or factually related items of business to be jointly debated.

Rule 71. Procedure Without Debate

1. Where the Committee Responsible requests that its report be adopted by Parliament without debate, or where the Committee has delivered its views on a proposal by the ECOWAS Commission without report, the proposal or report in question shall be placed on the draft Agenda to seek the decision of the Parliament.

2. The procedure without debate shall apply where the Committee Responsible has not tabled any amendment.

Rule 72. Closure of a Debate

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1. A debate may be closed before the list of speakers has been exhausted on a

proposal from the Speaker or at the request of a parliamentary group or at least five (5) Representatives. Such a proposal or request shall be put to the vote immediately.

2. If the proposal or request is carried, only one Representative may speak from each Parliamentary Group which has not yet provided a speaker in that debate.

3. After the speeches referred to in paragraph 2, the debate shall be closed and Parliament shall vote on the matter under debate, except where the time for the vote has been set in advance.

4. If the proposal or request is rejected, it may not be tabled again during that debate.

Rule 73. Adjournment of a Debate

1. During a debate on an item on the agenda, a Parliamentary Group or at least five (5) Representatives may move that the debate be adjourned to a specific date and time. Such a motion shall be written in one of the official languages signed by the movers and forwarded to the Speaker. The motion shall be put to vote immediately.

2. If the motion is carried, Parliament shall proceed to the next item on the Agenda. The adjourned debate shall be resumed at the specified date and time.

3. If the motion is rejected, it may not be tabled again during that Session.

4. Any decision by Parliament to adjourn a debate to a subsequent Session shall specify the Session during which the debate shall be tabled, on the understanding that the agenda for that session shall be drawn up pursuant to Rules 43 and 44 above.

Rule 74. Suspension or Closure of the Sitting

The Sitting may be suspended or closed during a debate or a vote if Parliament so decides on a proposal from the Speaker or at the request of a Parliamentary Group or at least five (5) Representatives. Such a proposal or request shall be put to the vote immediately.

CHAPTER XII: PUBLIC RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS:

Rule 75. Minutes

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1. At the beginning of each Sitting the Speaker shall place before Parliament, for its approval, the Minutes of the previous Sitting.

2. The Minutes of each sitting, containing the decisions of Parliament and attendance list shall be distributed at least half an hour before the opening of the next Sitting.

3. The texts adopted by Parliament shall be distributed separately. Where legislative texts adopted by Parliament contain amendments, they shall be published in a consolidated version.

4. If any objections are raised to the minutes Parliament shall, if necessary, decide whether the changes requested should be considered. No Member may speak on the minutes for more than one minute.

5. The minutes shall be signed by the Speaker and the Secretary General and preserved in the records of Parliament. They shall be published within one month in the Official Bulletin of Parliament.

Rule 76. Verbatim Reports

1. A Verbatim Report of the proceedings of each sitting shall be drawn up in the official languages in which the speakers express themselves.

2. The Verbatim Report shall be translated into the other official languages of the Community.

3. The Verbatim Report referred to in paragraph 1 above shall be published as an annex to the Official Bulletin of Parliament.

4. Audio recording of the debates are made in the source language, classified and archived in order to be made use of when needed.

Rule 77. Session Report

A Session Report shall be prepared by the Secretary General and adopted by the Parliament during the next Session. It shall thereafter be signed by the Speaker and copies sent to the Parliaments of Member States as well as Ecowas Commission.

CHAPTER XIII: OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY:

Rule 78. Transparency of Parliament's Activities

1. Parliament shall ensure the utmost transparency of its activities.

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2. Debates in Parliament shall be public. Plenary may however decide to meet in closed Session if such a request is made by the Chairman, a Parliamentary Group or ten (10) Representatives present at the Sitting.

3. Public access to debates of the organs of the Parliament shall be decided by the bureaux of the said organs.

Rule 79. Public Access to Documents of Parliament

The necessary measures shall be adopted by Plenary on a proposal from the Bureau to ensure that the public has access to Parliament’s documents.

Rule 80. Confidentiality

On the basis of a proposal from the Committee responsible, and without prejudice to Rules 39 above, Parliament shall adopt criteria for the definition of confidential information and documents.

CHAPTER XIV: PETITIONS:

Rule 81. Right of Petition

1. Any citizen of the Community, and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State, shall have the right to address, individually or in association with other citizens or persons, a petition to Parliament on a matter which comes within ECOWAS fields of activity and which affects him, her or it directly.

2. Petitions to Parliament shall show the name, occupation, nationality and permanent address of each petitioner.

3. Petitions must be written in one of the official languages of the Community.

4. Petitions shall be entered in a register in the order in which they are received if they comply with the conditions laid down in paragraph 2; those that do not shall be filed, and the petitioner shall be informed of the reasons thereof.

5. Petitions entered in the register shall be forwarded by the Speaker to the Committee responsible, which shall first ascertain whether the petitions registered fall within the Community’s sphere of activities.

6. Petitions declared inadmissible by the Committee shall be filed; the petitioner shall be informed of the decision and the reasons thereof.

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7. In such cases the Committee may suggest to the petitioner that he contacts the competent authority of the Member State concerned or of the Community.

8. Petitions addressed to Parliament by natural or legal persons who are neither citizens of the Community nor residents in a Member State and do not have their registered office in a Member State shall be registered and filed separately. The Speaker shall send a monthly record of such Petitions received during the previous month, indicating their subject matter, to the appropriate Committee.

Rule 82. Examination of Petitions

1. The Committee Responsible may decide to draw up a report or otherwise express its opinion on Petitions it has declared admissible.

2. The Committee may, particularly in the case of Petitions which seek changes in existing law, request opinions from other Committees pursuant to these Rules of Procedure.

3. When considering Petitions, the relevant Committee may organize hearings or dispatch Members to investigate so as to establish the facts of the situation.

4. With a view to preparing its opinions, the Committee may request the ECOWAS Commission to submit documents, to supply information and to grant it access to its facilities.

5. The Committee shall, where necessary, submit Motions for resolutions to Parliament on Petitions which it has considered.

6. The Committee may also request that its opinions be forwarded by the Speaker to the ECOWAS Commission.

7. The ECOWAS Commission shall, inform Parliament of the measures taken by it or by the Council of Ministers on Petitions referred to them by Parliament.

8. The Speaker shall inform petitioners of the decisions taken and the reasons thereof.

Rule 83. Notice of Petitions

1. The Speaker shall give notice to Representatives of the Petitions entered in the Register referred to in Rule 82(4) and the main decisions on the procedure to be followed in relation to specific petitions. Such decisions shall be entered in the minutes of proceedings.

2. The title and a summary of the texts of Petitions entered in the Register, together with the texts of the opinions and the most important decisions forwarded in connection with the examination of the Petitions, shall be made available to the public in a database, provided the petitioner agrees to this. Confidential Petitions

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shall be preserved in the records of Parliament, where they shall be available for inspection by Representatives.

CHAPTER XV: RELATIONS WITH THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY:

Rule 84. Relations with the Authority of Heads of State and Government

1. The Chairman may request to address Parliament. The Parliament shall grant such request.

2. Address of the Chairman may be subject to debate.

3. Other Heads of State of the Community shall equally be allowed upon their request to address the Parliament, and such address shall not be subject to debate.

4. Parliament shall submit to the Authority of Heads of State and Government its recommendations on any matter concerning the Community for its consideration and decision in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 2 of Decision A/DEC.6/01/06 dated 12 January 2006 of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

5. The Speaker shall have access to the Chairman of Authority and shall periodically brief the Chairman on the activities of Parliament

Rule 85. Relations with the Council of Ministers

1. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers shall during the May Session of Parliament, present an Annual Report of the activities of the Community. These reports shall focus on the integration policy as well as the implementation status of approved Community programs.

2. Parliament may, on its own initiative, invite the Chairman or any Member of the Council of Ministers to address the Plenary on any issues of relevance to the life of the Community. Parliament may decide to allow a debate following the Address.

3. Parliament shall make its recommendations on any issue concerning the Community, in particular issues listed under Article 6 of the Protocol, to the Council of Ministers for its consideration, in accordance with the procedure set out in Decision A/Dec.6/01/06 dated 12 January 2006.

4. Council may consult Parliament for its opinion on any matters concerning the Community.

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5. Any Member of Council of Ministers may at any time ask the Speaker for permission to make a Statement. The Speaker shall decide when the Statement may be made. Such a Statement may be followed by a debate.

Rule 86. Relations with the Community Court of Justice

1. Parliament may request the Community Court of Justice to express, a legal opinion on the interpretation of the provisions of the Treaty, Protocol and all other Texts of the Community.

2. Parliament shall be bound by the opinion of the Community Court of Justice.

Rule 87. Relations with the ECOWAS Commission

1. Upon his/her appointment as the head of the ECOWAS Commission, the President shall be invited to make a Statement to Parliament and answer questions that may be put to him/her.

2. The Statement shall be debated but may not be followed by a vote.

3. In accordance with the provisions of Article 13(3) of the Protocol, the President shall attend or ensure that he/she is represented at all meetings of the Parliament.

4. The President shall keep Parliament informed of all activities relating to the Community. Accordingly he shall either on his own initiative or at the invitation of Parliament provide all relevant and necessary information that will guide Parliament in its deliberations.

5. Parliament may request either orally or in writing, any information, from the President. Such information shall be provided in whatever manner and period as may be agreed between the Chairman and the Speaker.

6. The President shall inform Parliament of all decisions taken by the Authority and the Council of Ministers.

7. Parliament shall make an Annual Report to the Chairman and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers through the President.

Rule 88. Relations with the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development

1. The President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development shall present an Annual Report on the activities of the Bank and its subsidiaries to Parliament.

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2. Parliament may decide to hold a debate following this presentation.

3. The President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development and the Managing Directors of the ECOWAS Regional Investment Bank and the ECOWAS Regional Development Bank may be invited to attend a meeting of the relevant Committee.

Rule 89. Relations with specialized Institutions of the Community

1. Parliament may request the Head of all Institutions or specialized agencies of the Community to address it on any issue.

2. Parliament may decide to hold a debate following this presentation.

CHAPTER XVI: RELATIONS WITH NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS, PARLIAMENTARY AND INTER-PARLIAMENTARY INSTITUTIONS, AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS:

Rule 90. Relations with National Parliaments - Exchange of Information, Contacts and Reciprocal Facilities

1. Parliament shall keep the National Parliaments of the Member States regularly informed of its activities and request inclusion of this information in the agenda of their Sessions

2. The Bureau may give a mandate to the Speaker to establish a framework for cooperation with the National Parliaments of the Member States, and to propose any other mechanism to facilitate contacts with National Parliaments.

3. Representatives shall make periodic reports of the activities of the ECOWAS Parliament to their National Parliaments. These reports shall be made after each Session and copied to the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.

4. At the beginning of each Session of the Parliament ,Representatives shall present a Country Report on the status of implementation of the community text and programs ,particularly on the Human Rights situation and the State of Democracy and good governance in his/her Country or any other issue decided by the Bureau.

5. Country Reports shall be debated by Plenary in accordance with modalities defined by the Bureau.

Rule 91. Relations with Parliamentary, Inter-parliamentary Institutions and International Organisations

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1. Parliament shall endeavour to develop cooperation with the other Parliaments, Inter-Parliamentary Institutions, development Partners and Non Governmental Organisations.

2. Representatives may constitute parliamentary networks between the ECOWAS Parliament and other Parliaments in areas that are of interest to the Community. Networking shall be optional and membership shall be on an individual and voluntary basis.

3. The Parliament may extend support to the Networks.

CHAPTER XVII: ADDRESS BY SPECIAL GUESTS AND EMINENT PERSONS TO PARLIAMENT:

Rule 92. Statements by Special Guests and Eminent Persons

1. The Speaker may, in agreement with the Bureau, invite or receive special guests

or eminent persons to make statements before Parliament; the statements shall be followed with or without debate.

2. In the case of Statements with debate, the Speaker shall determine the total time to be allotted to a group or Representative during the debate. The entry of names of Representatives seeking leave to speak and the order in which they will be called shall be determined by the Speaker.

CHAPTER XVIII: QUESTIONS

Rule 93. Questions to Chairman of Council and President of ECOWAS Commission

1. Questions may be put either orally or in writing to the Chairman of Council or the

President relating to the affairs within their official functions

2. The Bureau shall determine the manner in which oral or written Questions may be submitted, notified or published.

3. Without prejudice to paragraph 2 above, a Representative who wishes to submit a written or oral Question shall notify the Speaker who shall bring it to the notice of the ECOWAS Commission.

4. Written and oral questions shall be published in the Official Bulletin of Parliament whether or not Parliament is in Session.

5. Replies to Questions shall be published in the Official Bulletin of the Parliament within one month of the submission of the question.

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6. However, the Chairman of Council and the President may, within this time frame, indicate in writing that answering the questions would be against the public interest, or exceptionally, they may ask for an additional period of up to one month to prepare their reply.

Rule 94. Deadline for the submission of Question

1. A Question shall not be asked without notice, unless the Speaker is of the opinion

that it is of an urgent nature, and relates either to a matter of public importance or to the arrangement of public business and the Representative has obtained the permission of the Speaker to ask it.

2. Notice of every Question shall be given to the Secretary-General by a Representative in writing not later than seven days before the Session of the Parliament commences. But where the Session has commenced the Question shall be given by a Representative in writing to the Secretary-General not later than three (3) clear days before the Sitting day on which the answer is required.

3. If a Representative requires an oral answer to his Question, he shall mark it with an asterisk. Not more than three questions shall be marked by a Representative for oral answer on the same day.

Rule 95. Admissibility of Question

1. A question shall not

a. include the names of persons or statements not strictly necessary to render

the question intelligible;

b. contain statements which the Representative who asks the question is not prepared to substantiate;

c. contain arguments, inferences, opinions, imputations, epithets or tendentious, ironical or offensive expressions;

d. refer to debates or answers to questions in the current Session;

e. refer to proceedings in a Committee of Parliament which have been reported to Parliament;

f. seek information about any mater which is of its nature secret or confidential in view of the Community texts;

g. reflect on the decision of a court of law and no question shall be asked on any matter which is sub judice;

h. be asked for the purpose of obtaining an expression of opinion, the solution of an abstract legal case or the answer to a hypothetical proposition;

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i. be asked as to whether statements in the Press or of private individuals or bodies of persons are accurate;

j. be asked as to the character or conduct of any person except in his official or public capacity;

k. be asked reflecting on the character or conduct of any person whose conduct can only be challenged on a substantive motion;

l. be asked making or implying a charge of a personal character;

m. be asked again during the same Session if fully answered.

Rule 96. Supplementary Questions in Plenary

1. Supplementary questions may be put for the purpose of elucidating an oral

answer, but the Speaker may refuse any such question which in his opinion introduces matter not related to the original question.

2. If a Representative asking a question for an oral reply fails to rise and ask his question, then any other Representative may make the question his own and may rise in his place and ask the question in the manner prescribed above. If no other Representative rises, or if a question is not fully answered or not reached by the end of Question Time, the Chairman of the Council of Minister, the President of the Commission, the Commissioner or other Member of the Council of Ministers to whom the question is addressed shall send copies of the answer to the Representative who asked it and to the Secretary-General, who shall cause that answer to be circulated to Representatives. This answer is annexed to the Report of the Session. Provided that at any time before the end of Question Time, the Representative who asked the question standing in his name may signify to the Secretary-General his desire to postpone the question to a later sitting day or may withdraw it.

3. If the Chairman of the Council of Minister, the President of the Commission, the Commissioner or other Member of the Council of Ministers, who is to answer a question, is absent, the questions appearing on the Order Paper have been disposed of. If the Minister, Commissioner or other Member then be not present, he shall send copies of the answer to the Representative who asked them and to the Secretary-General, who shall cause the answers to be circulated to Representatives. This answer is annexed to the Report of the Session.

4. A question shall not be made the pretext for a debate.

5. If an oral answer to a question is not required the Minister, Commissioner or other Member to whom it is addressed shall send copies of the answer to the Representative who asked it and to the Secretary -General, who shall cause such answer to be circulated to Representatives. This answer is annexed to the Report of the Session.

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6. Any Representative, beginning with the Representative asking the substantive question, may put a supplementary Question without notice for the purpose of elucidating an oral answer. The Speaker may however refuse such a question if, in his opinion, it introduces a matter that is not related to the original question or infringes any of the provisions of these Rules.

CHAPTER XIX: THE ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIAT OF PARLIAMENT:

Rule 97. The Secretary General and Other Staff

1. The administration of Parliament shall be headed by the Secretary-General under

the authority of the Speaker.

2. The Secretary-General shall be assisted by a Director of Administration and Finance and a Director of Parliamentary Affairs and by such staff as are necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament.

3. The Secretariat shall provide all administrative, technical and financial services that should facilitate the work of the Members of Parliament and ensure the efficient functioning of this Institution.

Rule 98. Mode of Appointment and Duties of Secretary General

1. The mode of appointment and functions of the Secretary-General and the

Directors are set out in the Supplementary Protocol relating to the Community Parliament.

2. The Bureau shall adopt provisions governing the organisational arrangement of Parliament’s services and specifying the modalities for the running of the General Secretariat in accordance with Community text.

CHAPTER XX: BUDGET OF PARLIAMENT:

Rule 99. Budget of Parliament

1. The preliminary draft budget shall be drawn up by an ad hoc Committee constituted by the Speaker. The Committee shall be assisted by the General Secretariat of the Parliament.

2. The Committee shall forward the preliminary draft budget to the Bureau for consideration. Then, the Speaker shall submit it to the relevant Committee in accordance with Rule 32 of these Rules of Procedure. The adopted draft Budget will be forwarded to the Council of Ministers for approval in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

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Rule 100. Accounts and Audit

1. The accounts of Parliament shall be maintained in Units of Account in accordance with the Manual of Accounting and Financial Regulations of the Community.

2. The General Secretariat shall ensure that proper books of accounts and asset register are maintained.

3. The books of accounts of Parliament and such other statements and documents relating thereto shall be audited at the end of each financial year by an auditor appointed by the Council of Ministers in accordance with the Financial Regulation of the ECOWAS.

4. The Audit Reports of the Parliament shall be referred to the Committee on

Administration, Finance, Budget Control and Audits.

CHAPTER XXI: APPLICATION, INTERPRETATION AND REVIEW OF RULES OF PROCEDURE

Rule 101. Suspension of Rules

1. Notwithstanding anything in these Rules, any rule or part of a rule may be suspended without notice with the consent of the Speaker and the absolute majority of Representatives present.

2. The Rule or part of the rule proposed to be suspended and the reason for the proposed suspension shall be distinctly stated.

Rule 102. Matters not provided for in these Rules

. 1. Any issue that is not resolved in these Rules shall be referred to the Bureau

which shall in turn report to the Plenary at the next Parliamentary Session.

2. In case of emergency, the Bureau may debate and report to the Plenary at the next Parliamentary Session.

Rule 103. Interpretation of the Rules of Procedure

1. Should doubt arise over the interpretation of these Rules of Procedure, the Speaker may, without prejudice to any previous decisions in this field, refer the matter for examination by the appropriate Committee which shall report to the Plenary.

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2. Where the interpretation adopted by the relevant Committee responsible contested by the majority of Representatives at Plenary, the Speaker shall refer the matter to the Community Court of Justice for an interpretation of the litigious provision. The decision of the Court shall be binding on the Parliament

Rule 104. Review of Rules

1. These Rules of Procedure and annexures may be reviewed at the initiative of the

Conference of Bureaux or at the request of at least one-third (1/3) of Representatives.

2. The proposal shall be submitted to the Committee responsible which shall examine it and submit it to the Plenary for adoption.

3. The Report of the Committee shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of Parliament’s component Members.

CHAPTER XXII: MISCELLANEOUS:

Rule 105. Unfinished Business

1. At the end of the last Session of the Term of the Legislature, all Parliaments’ unfinished business shall be deemed to have lapsed, subject to the provisions of section 2.

2. At the beginning of each Parliamentary Term the Conference of Bureaux shall take a decision on reasoned requests from parliamentary Committees and other institutions to resume or continue the consideration of matters referred to in paragraph 1.

3. These provisions shall not apply to Petitions and Communications that do not require a decision.

CHAPTER XXIII FINAL PROVISIONS

Rule 106. Entry into force

The present Rules of Procedure shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Adopted at Abuja, this 8th day of February 2016

Rt. Hon. MOUSTAPHA CISSE LO

Speaker

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ANNEX I

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES

I. COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, WATER RESOURCES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The functions of the Committee are to: 1. Develop Agriculture, Forestry, livestock and fisheries in order to:

a. Ensure food security b. Increase production and productivity in Agriculture, livestock, fisheries and

forestry, and improve conditions of work and general employment opportunities in rural areas;

c. Enhance agricultural, livestock and fisheries product by processing them locally.

2. Formulate, develop and harmonize policies to regulate the conservation,

exploitation and management of water resources in the Sub-region.

3. Develop a common agricultural policy, especially in the fields of research, training, production, and preservation, processing and marketing of the products of agriculture, forestry, livestock and fisheries.

4. Environmental policy and environment protection, in particular: a. Air, soil and water pollution; b. Climate change; c. Import classification, packaging, labelling, transport, and use of dangerous

substances and preparations; d. Treatment and storage of waste; e. International and regional measures and agreements aimed at protecting the

environment. f. Protection of fauna and flora; g. Provisions of the law of the sea in respect of the environment; h. Soil protection and restoration; i. Exploitation and management of natural resources; j. Forestry development; 5. Harmonize policies and programmes in the field of Agriculture, Environment and

Water Resources among Members States.

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II. COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

The functions of this Committee are to: 1. Inquire into population issues, formulate and implement national policies and

programmes for accelerated and balanced socio-economic development;

2. Consider matters relating to training institutions, improving the efficacy of educational systems, encourage exchanges between schools and universities, establish equivalences of academic, professional and technical qualifications, encourage literacy, promote the teaching and practice of the official languages of the community, and establish regional centres of excellence in various disciplines;

3. Strengthen national capacities for science and technology with a view to improving quality of life for Community citizens.

4. Reduce dependence on foreign technology, promote local technology and collective technological self-reliance;

5. Consider matters relating to the strengthening of scientific research institutions;

6. Promote joint scientific research and technological development programmes;

7. Reassert culture and protect cultural identity;

III. COMMITTEE ON LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT, YOUTH, SPORTS AND CULTURE.

This Committee shall be responsible for matters relating to: 1. Harmonisation of labour laws and legislation on social security;

2. Protection of children’s rights;

3. Promoting exchange of skilled manpower among Member States

4. Ensure effective participation and involvement of the youth in the social

development of the sub-region;

5. Promote literacy, professional training and employment;

6. Promote youth organizations and their involvement in the activities of the community;

7. Encourage the practice of sports as a means of bringing together the youth of the sub-region and ensuring their balanced development.

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IV. COMMITTEE ON GENDER, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION

This Committee shall be responsible for matters relating to:

1. Removal of all constraints that inhibit women from maximizing their contributions

and benefits in the sub-regional integration effort;

2. Development of a policy on equal opportunities, including equality between men and women with regard to employment opportunities;

3. Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, including customary practices;

4. Harmonization of associations of West African Women’s organization with relevant bilateral, multilateral and governmental Organisations;

5. Harmonization of legislations on social protection;

6. Solidarity building at community level.

7. Capacity building of cooperative groups of Associations and/or Vulnerable

Groups.

V. COMMITTEE ON INFRASTRUCTURE, ENERGY, MINES AND INDUSTRY

This Committee shall be responsible for: 1. Common transport and communication policies, laws and regulations;

2. Developing an extensive network of All-weather roads within the Community,

priority being given to the inter-State highways.

3. Improvement and integration of rail-way networks in region

4. Programmes for improving coastal shipping services in inter-state inland waterways and harmonising policies on maritime transport and services;

5. Harmonising and regulating the area of international laws policies of maritime \ transport;

6. The development of regional air transportation services;

7. Developing human resources through harmonization, standardisation and coordination of national training programmes and policies in transportation in general and air transport, in particular;

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8. Standardisation of equipment being used in transport and communications and establishment of common facilities for production, maintenance and repair;

9. The establishment and promotion of joint ventures and community enterprises and promoting private sector involvement in transport, communication and tourism;

10. Promoting industrial, handicraft and mining development in the Member States and harmonisation of their industrial policies, as provided for under Article 26 of the Treaty;

11. Creating and strengthening multinational, private and public industrial projects which can promote integration;

12. Promoting small and medium scale industries;

13. Encouraging participation of West African entrepreneurs in the sub-regional industrialization process;

14. Prospecting, mapping, production, development, utilisation and processing of mineral resources;

15. The effective development of the sub-region’s energy resources;

16. Ensuring the regular supply of hydrocarbons;

17. The development of new and renewable energies, particularly solar energy as part of efforts to diversity energy sources;

18. Interconnection of electricity distribution networks;

19. The West African pipeline project and its extension to all Member States;

20. Research into exploration, production and distribution sources of energy;

VI. COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL AFFAIRS, PEACE, SECURITY AND AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM

This Committee shall be responsible for matters relating to: 1. Regional peace, stability and security by seeking to promote and strengthen good

neighbourliness;

2. Peaceful resolution of disputes among Member States, a cooperation between neighbouring countries and prom of a peaceful environment as a Prerequisite for economic development:

3. Promotion and consolidation of a democratic system of governance in each Member State as envisaged by ECOWAS declaration of Political Principles

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adopted in Abuja on 6 July 1991;

4. The territorial integrity and independence of Member State;

5. Equality of sovereign states;

6. Strengthening cooperation in the area of conflict prevention, early warning, peacekeeping operations, control of cross-border crime; international terrorism and proliferation of small arms and anti-personnel mines;

7. The provision of the Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security;

8. Relations with other West African organisations, the African Union, United Nations and other international organisations;

9. Rationalisation of intergovernmental organisations in West African;

10. The common foreign, defence and security policy of ECOWAS;

11. Political aspects of relations with third world countries and international organisations with regard to the implementation of ECOWAS foreign defence and security policy;

12. Measures to combat crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, corruption and fraud;

13. South-South and North-South dialogue;

14. The African Peer Review Mechanism

VII. COMMITTEE ON TRADE, CUSTOMS AND FREE MOVEMENT

This Committee shall be responsible for matters relating to:

1. The establishment of an economic and monetary union within the timeframe

stated in the treaty (Articles 54 and 55);

2. The role of the private sector and joint regional enterprises in the sub-regional economic integration process;

3. The establishment of an African Economic Union envisaged in the Treaty

establishing the African Economic Union of 1991;

4. Intra-community trade in goods and services;

5. The promotion of the use of local materials, intermediate goods and inputs as well as finished products originating within the community;

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6. The protection of export commodity prices on the international market;

7. ECOWAS trade fairs and similar events;

8. The establishment of an intra-community trade fair information network;

9. Promotion of better terms of trade for West African commodities and improving access to international markets for the Community;

10. The World Trade Organization, and UNCTAD;

11. Customs regulations and procedures to ensure effective implementation of the provision of chapter VIII of the Treaty;

12. Citizenship of the Community and adoption of measures to guarantee right of entry, residence and establishment of every community citizen, as provided for under Article 59 of the Treaty;

13. Closer cooperation among judicial and other competent authorities in Member States, in accordance with Article 57 of the Treaty.

14. The Common External Tariff (CET).

15. Application of the ACP-European/Union partnership.

VIII. COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AND JUDICIAL AFFAIRS

This Committee shall be responsible for matters relating to: 1. Recognition and observation of Community rules and principles;

2. Recognition, promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in

accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights;

3. Harmonisation of the judicial and legal systems of Member States;

4. Measure to combat all forms of discrimination based on gender, race ethnic origin, religious beliefs, disability or age;

5. Measures to prevent racism, ethnicity and xenophobia;

6. Parliamentary rules and verification of powers;

7. Elaboration and implementation of treaties and protocols;

8. Preparation of a draft common electoral law.

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IX. COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

This Committee shall be responsible for: 1. Integration in the field of telecommunications;

2. Promotion of new information technologies;

3. Harmonisation of national medial development policies;

4. The media, information and advertising

X. COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, BUDGET CONTROL AND AUDITS

This Committee shall be responsible for: 1. Examining the draft budget for the Parliament;

2. Monitoring financial and administrative management in the Parliament;

3. Controlling execution of the Parliament’s budget;

4. Considering the Internal and External Audit Reports of the Parliament;

5. Verifying accounts and balance sheets relating to decisions concerning the

closure, presenting and auditing of the Parliament’s revenue and expenditure as well as measures accompanying or implementing these decisions, in particular, as part of the internal control procedure;

6. Assessing the effectiveness of various community financing mechanisms, notably the implementation of the protocol relating to the community levy; the coordination of various financial instruments, and evaluation of the cost/effectiveness of implementing policies financed by the Community.

XI. COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC POLICIES, PRIVATE SECTOR AND NEPAD

This Committee shall be responsible for matters in the following areas: 1. Promotion of a financing policy for agricultural development, industrial projects,

etc.;

2. Promotion of a financing policy that extends micro-credit to rural populations,

3. Establishment of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ);

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4. The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development and its subsidiaries, the West African Monetary Agency, the West African Monetary Institute and the West African Central Bank;

5. Harmonisation of monetary, financial and fiscal policies of Member States, establishment of a single sub-regional Central Bank and creation of a single West African currency;

6. Free movement of capital between Member States;

7. Establishment of an environment conducive to foreign investment in Member States;

8. Adoption of a West African Investment code;

9. Monitoring activities in the context of NEPAD;

10. Promotion of a public-private partnership.

XII. COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

This Committee shall be responsible for: 1. Follow-up and harmonization of policies in the field of public health;

2. Veterinary legislation concerning protection against dangers to human health

arising from bacteria and residues in animal products, public health checks on foodstuffs and food production systems;

3. Pharmaceutical products, including veterinary medicines;

4. The West African Health Organisation and other international health organisations.

XIII. COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROTECTION OF THE CHILD AND OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS

This Committee shall be responsible for: 1. Recognition, promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in

accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights;

2. Promotion and protection of children’s rights;

3. Information policy and studies on women and children;

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4. Monitoring the implementation of international agreements and conventions on human and children’s rights (United Nations, ILO, African Charter on Human and peoples’ Rights etc.)

5. Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, including customary practices;

6. Reinforcing the provisions on child labour and trafficking.

7. Development of appropriate measures for the protection of the child and other

vulnerable groups.

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ANNEXE II

DECISION A/DEC.6/01/06 OF THE AUTHORITY HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF 12TH JUNE 2006 RELATING TO THE MODALITIES FOR EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 6 OF PROTOCOL A/P.2/8/94, RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY PARLIAMENT