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Speaker Abbas calls for unity among African legislatures to protect region’s interests

Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, underscored on Monday the need for synergy among the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Legislatures (CoSHAL) in the bid to foster the continent’s development and protect collective interests on the global stage.

Speaker Abbas, who gave the charge during an online meeting of the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Legislatures (CoSHAL), showered encomium on the Director-General of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman, and his dedicated team for taking on the responsibility of creating a secretariat for CoSHAL.

The Speaker, who was represented by his Deputy, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said: “At no time in recent history has it been more crucial for Africa and its nations to work closely to uphold shared values of inclusive democracy.

“With a common agenda, we must develop our continent and protect our collective interests on the global stage. Therefore, unity, coordination, and collaboration are essential for us to engage more constructively and profitably in the global marketplace.

“Accordingly, the role that organisations such as CoSHAL can play in facilitating all the above cannot be overstated. As the indigenous platform of the protectors of our democracy, the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Legislatures (CoSHAL) stands as a rallying point and a beacon of hope and progress for our continent.

“It is indeed a privilege to speak to you today about this laudable initiative that originated with the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR, and six other Speakers from across Africa, including Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, Rwanda, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

“Since the inception of CoSHAL during the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa has encountered numerous challenges, including democratic backsliding in the West African sub-region, economic crunches across the continent, and heightened geopolitical tensions globally, particularly with the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, amongst others.

“These are moments where a fully functional CoSHAL is needed to play a critical role in advocating for peace, security, stability, and democracy, guiding, advising, legislating, and influencing outcomes in the best interest of our continent.

“Therefore, given CoSHAL’s importance to our continent’s future and in acknowledgement of the foresight of the distinguished legislators who championed its inception, I say categorically that the Office of the 10th Speaker and indeed the Nigerian House of Representatives will continue to support, engage in, and play an active role in CoSHAL.

“The baby may have been born in Nigeria, but it belongs to Africa, and we all must work together to bring it up. As such, we must build on the momentum we have garnered to bequeath the CoSHAL that our forebearers envisioned—one that is an integral contributor to Africa’s development.”

While noting that having a constitution as an organisation is fundamental, he urged that such a move be done swiftly and ratified at the next general assembly scheduled to be held in Accra, Ghana.

“We applaud the work done in setting up the CoSHAL physical secretariat, which is now operational at NILDS. This will bring administrative and operational structure and efficiency to our organisation. Nigeria’s contribution in hosting the Secretariat is to ensure that CoSHAL is not just a body for dialogue and deliberation but, indeed, a capable body with the operational machinery to implement its decisions and actions.”

To move CoSHAL forward substantively, Hon. Abbas suggested that “at our next general assembly, we identify different thematic areas, roles, and responsibilities needed to advance our agenda. Speakers from across the regions should then be encouraged to chair specific committees in the identified areas of key concern, driving action and interventions in thematic areas that are crucial to CoSHAL.

“These committees can then report back to the General Assembly, as needed. This way, we are not just talking, but we are working intentionally, effectively, and systematically.

“I furthermore encourage the speedy ratification and adoption of the Constitution and the recommendations presented by the Secretariat for the administrative and operational structure of CoSHAL. This will equip us with machinery that is fit-for-purpose, capable of advocating for the democratic values that CoSHAL imbibes while confidently espousing and robustly defending the interests of Africa both at home and abroad.”

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