Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has urged for fairness and inclusiveness in the allocation of statutory positions within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Speaking on Tuesday at an ad hoc ministerial meeting in Abuja, the minister stressed that the discussions reflected a collective commitment among member states to uphold equity, regional balance, and institutional integrity within ECOWAS governance.
“I wish to assure you that, true to its steadfast commitment to regional integration and solidarity, Nigeria will continue to assume its traditional leadership role by engaging in constructive dialogue with all Member States to build consensus and ensure that our joint decisions reflect both fairness and a shared vision for the future of our community,” she said.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the importance of considering the aspirations of member states with smaller populations or limited resources, while emphasising that committee membership should not be viewed as a pathway to leadership positions. She called on participants to prioritise regional solidarity over national ambitions.
“In doing so, we will contribute to strengthening unity, mutual trust and a sense of shared belonging among ECOWAS citizens,” she added.
The committee has been tasked with reviewing proposals for the distribution of statutory posts for the 2026–2030 period. Current incumbents, whose non-renewable four-year terms expire between July and October 2026, will need to be replaced.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the committee’s report will be submitted to the Council of Ministers in December 2025 for validation and recommendation to the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Dr. Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, noted that the Commission would provide a memorandum detailing the framework for distributing statutory posts, in line with the 2012 Supplementary Act.
Positions under review include the President and Vice-President of ECOWAS, Commissioners, Judges of the Community Court of Justice, as well as directors of GIABA and the West African Health Organization (WAHO).
The ad hoc committee, composed of representatives from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo, is expected to ensure an equitable rotation of posts, upholding the principle of balanced representation among member states.
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