Abuja, 16th July 2019.

The Commission’s Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender Dr. Siga Fatima Jagne spoke in this vein at the opening of the 3-Day meeting of the General Assembly of the ECOWAS Tripartite Social Dialogue Forum on the 16th of July 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria.
With a population of approximately 391 million and a combined Gross Domestic Product of $676.1 billion of majorly low income countries and per capita figures indicative of generalised poverty level, the Commissioner stressed that majority of the youth in the region do not have stable economic opportunities.

This scenario, she noted is being compounded by the problem of youth unemployment while underemployment is afflicting in the process, over half of the youth labour force in the region, yet a vibrant regional tripartite Social dialogue forum remains a key driver of decent work and employment.

Continuing, the Commissioner who was represented by the Commission’s Director of Social and Humanitarian Affairs Dr. Sintiki Ugbe, disclosed that women are also severely affected by the low employment rate as the gender gap between men and woman in gainful employment continues to widen while workers in the rural areas are less involved in the labour force participation due to poor infrastructure.

Warning that failure to urgently address the key decent work deficits is a threat to the very essence of the region’s existence, Commissioner Jagne Said:
“Therefore, we need to move from rhetoric to concrete actions. Not only will such measures contribute to the achievement of the regional integration mandate of ECOWAS, it will also promote achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals”.

Reiterating the seriousness with which social dialogue is held by the ECOWAS Commission, Commissioner Jagne noted that necessitated the continuous collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the development of a draft Decent Work Regional Programme (DWRP) spanning 2019-2022 to serve as an impetus to job creation, social security coverage, social dialogue, improve working conditions and promote gender mainstreaming in labour and employment matters for all West Africans.
Also addressing the social dialogue general assembly, the Regional Director, Africa of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Mrs Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon maintained that the ILO which established its first office in West Africa in Lagos in 1949, has supported the ECOWAS Commission and its Members States in developing decent work–compliant policy frameworks, institutions and delivery mechanisms, which notably include tripartite social dialogue mechanisms at national and regional level.

She cited key issues which the forum is to be mindful of in engendering sustainable of the region to include the contribution of Africa to the shaping of the global work agenda, the need to invest in the institutions that promote social dialogue, strategic response to the challenges thrown up by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and also of the need to bring all the different social dialogue conversations together.

While stressing the need to own its initiatives and programmes by ensuring that economic development activities in the region are not entirely funded by extraneous sources, the ILO chieftain however acknowledged and appreciated the funding received from the European Union (EU) and ECOWAS through the project “Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa” which is partly sustaining Social Dialogue Forum’s bureau, General Assembly and Ministerial Meetings.

Earlier, the president of the Social Dialogue Forum, Mr. Mamadou Konate urged participants at the meeting to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations of the Forum. He also called on the ECOWAS ministers of Labour to find solutions to the challenges that will be brought up during the meeting.

The Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Ministry of Labour and Employment Mr. William Alo stressed the need to pay more attention to the issues raised by social dialogue stakeholders. According to him, social dialogue and collective bargaining are veritable tools in addressing inequality, minimising the incidence of working poor and ensuring fair wage distribution while tackling informality in the ECOWAS region.

The meeting had representatives of the Organization of Trade Unions in West Africa (OTUWA), The Federation of West African Employers’ Organisations, (FOPAO AMONG OTHERS. The regional Ministers of Labour are expected to deliberate on the outcome of the meeting and other relevant issues on the 19th of July 20.

Mr Marcel A. de Souza, who was nominated by Benin at the 48th ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held in Abuja, Nigeria on 17 December 2015, headed the sub-regional organisation from 8 April 2016 to 28 February 2018.

Born on 30 October 1953 in Pobe, Benin, the former President of the ECOWAS Commission holds a Masters’ degree in Economic Science from the University of Dakar, Senegal, and a French post-graduate degree (DESS) in Administration and Banking from the Centre for Training and Banking Studies (COFEB).

He served as an Internal Auditor at the main branch of BCEAO in Cotonou, National Director of BCEAO in Benin and then Director of Administration of the same financial institution in Dakar.
In Benin, he was once a Member of the National Assembly, Head of Economic and Financial Affairs at the Presidency and the Special Adviser to the President of the Republic on money and banking matters.

He was also Minister for Development, Economic Analysis and Prospects from May 2011 to June 2015.
The ECOWAS Commission conveys its condolences to the family of the late illustrious leader and to the Government of Benin.

Abuja, 18th July 2019. The President of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) His Excellency Jean-Claude Kassi Brou met with Heads of Intelligence and Security Services on the 18th of July 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The meeting held on the margins of the 16th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA).

Deliberations by the Intelligence chiefs would border on the measures to implement the portion of the final communique of the 55th ordinary session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, which relates to the strengthening of direct exchange of information and intelligence among Member States for the effective fight against terrorism in the region.

CISSA conference is an annual forum where African countries’ heads of Intelligence and security services converge to discuss issues of common interest affecting peace and security on the continent.

Abuja 19th July, 2019. Ministers in charge of Labor and Employment from Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are examining the proposals by labour experts and the General Assembly of the ECOWAS Social Dialogue Forum (SDF) regarding the harmonization of Labour laws and a decent work programme for the region.

Addressing the ministers and delegates at the opening of the ministerial meeting on the 19th of July 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender Dr. Siga Fatima Jagne maintained that in the promotion of decent work for ECOWAS citizens, dialogue between stakeholders (including Ministries of Labor and Employment), employers, workers and civil society organizations and international partners, dialogue is imperative in order to reach a consensus on decent work agenda that takes into account the needs of the labour market, while protecting the interests and rights of all workers.

She stated that the ECOWAS Commission recognizes that social dialogue contributes to the overall cohesion of societies and is crucial for productivity and a well-functioning region.

Commissioner Jagne Stressed the importance of an active collaboration with all stakeholders on peace consolidation and social cohesion for the realization of the objectives of the socio-economic development of the ECOWAS region.

She pointed out that ECOWAS has come a long way since the adoption of the ECOWAS Labour and Employment Policy in 2009 and in addressing the challenges, has undertaken major projects for the acceleration of the process of integration while achieving the community’s vision of moving from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of peoples, by 2020.

Commissioner Jagne urged the Ministers to adopt the text of recommendations being presented to enable the ECOWAS Commission “put in place regional mechanisms that facilitate and enhance the social integration of our citizens in our community space and create conditions for a job decent and regulated at Member State level without xenophobia and other forms of discrimination”.

While declaring the meeting open, the Minister of Labour and Employment of Niger Mr. Mohammed Ben Omar noted that the people of West Africa are looking up to the ministers to provide lasting solutions to the issues raised in aid of regional peace and stability.

The initiatives of the SDF, he continued, is an illustration of the goodwill of the ministers for the strengthening of capacities in the area of labour administration.

In his remarks, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Liaison for ECOWAS, Mr. Dennis Zulu opined that as a long-standing partner of all ministries of labour and employment in the region, the ministers are being encouraged to use the opportunities provided by the meeting to ensure that “the ECOWAS SDF can realize its potential and be an effective, efficient and durable mechanism for enhancing the quality of work and results in the labour and employment sector”

Speaking to the theme of this year’s meeting -Strengthening Social Dialogue for the Promotion of Decent Work in the ECOWAS Region, the Permanent Secretary, Nigerian Ministry of Labour and Employment Mr. William Alo, pledged the continuous support of the Nigerian government to the ECOWAS Commission in “its unabated determination to holistically address knotty employment and labour issues in the region”.

There were also goodwill messages from the Organisation of Trade Unions of West Africa (OTUWA) and the Federation of Organisations of Employers in West Africa (FOPAO) whose’ chiefs- Madam Abotsi Klutse Kekeli and Mr. John Odah alongside the President of the ECOWAS SDF Mamadou Konate, advocated the entrenchment of workers’ rights, gender equity, vocational training for the youth, as well as the right to social protection among others.

The Ministerial Meeting was preceded by the brainstorming sessions of the labour experts and General Assembly of the SDF, being a natural follow up to the discussions and review of ongoing activities, including a stock taking of past activities meant to work out appropriate mechanisms for better coordination and implementation of desired programmes and initiatives.

It is expected that the documents deliberated upon will be the key frameworks that ECOWAS and Member States can apply in order to achieve the ILO Centenary Declaration for the future of work adopted at its 108th conference held in June 2019.

Abuja, 18th July 2019. The 32nd meeting of the Governing Board of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre KAIPTC took place on 17 July 2019 in Accra Ghana.

Among others, the meeting had in attendance, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Gen Francis Behanzin who used the opportunity to restate the commitment of the Commission to the attainment of a stable, prosperous region.

ECOWAS which supports KAIPTC through funding of selected courses, was participating at the governing board meeting for the first time.

The KAIPTC is one of the three ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence (TCE) which is helping in the peace-building and security enhancement initiatives of the regional organisation.
The Memorandum of understanding between the ECOWAS Commission and the TCEs, admits ECOWAS is a member of their Governing Board.

On its part, the KAIPTC Governing Board is responsible for approving annual work and strategic plan as well as budget while reviewing the overall performance of the Centre.

Cotonou, 18 July 2019. Ministers of Culture of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have just adopted the 2019-2023 Regional Action Plan for the return of African cultural artefacts to their countries of origin, and the Regional Cultural Policy Document along with its Action Plan. This took place during a regional meeting held on 17 July 2019 in Cotonou, Benin.

The Regional Action Plan for the return of African cultural artefacts to their countries of origin is a document that sets out the strategic guidelines for regional and joint action, particularly with regard to protection, enhancement, legal framework, financing and governance. The plan also contains six (6) strategic objectives and a number of actions and activities. The other highlight of the Cotonou meeting was the validation of the Regional Cultural Policy Document together with its action plan, designed to promote and safeguard the regional cultural heritage and enhance the professional development of artists and cultural stakeholders.

Following the validation of the two documents, the Heads of Ministries of Culture recommended their adoption by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

During the meeting, the ministers were also briefed on the ECOWAS Prize for Excellence. They also took note of progress in the organisation of the 1^st West African Culture Festival (ECOFEST), as it relates to its format, cost and the level of resource mobilisation.

At the end of the Cotonou meeting, it was recommended to the ECOWAS Commission to set up a mechanism for the safekeeping and subsequent return of endangered cultural artefacts from one threatened country to another, if they cannot be placed in a more secure place in the country. Likewise, a regional mechanism should be established to collect statistical data on culture.

Several other recommendations were also made on enhancing the effectiveness of the regional mechanism for the protection of intellectual property, the establishment of strong vocational training institutes in the culture sector, boosting cooperation and partnerships between cultural institutions and finally increasing Community funding for culture. The ECOWAS Ministers also recommended that the role of culture in national development policies be strengthened and that ICT should be factored into cultural policies in order to stimulate young people’s interest in cultural issues.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor Leopoldo Amado, ECOWAS Commissioner for Education, Science and Culture, recalled the importance of the Cotonou meeting for the African continent and West Africa in particular. He specifically stated that: “This meeting is taking place at a time when the role of culture for development has been recognised internationally, contributing 7% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product even before 2002 and thus creating jobs on par with other strategic areas. Unfortunately, this interest is failing to come to fruition on our continent”.

The meeting was officially opened by Honourable Aurélien A. Agbénonci, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Benin, who thanked the ECOWAS Commission for the actions and initiatives undertaken to promote the development of culture in West Africa. He also underscored his country’s pioneering role with regard to the return of cultural artefacts and the progress so far. Honourable Agbénonci reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Benin to make culture one of the driving forces of his country’s growth and work towards regaining the collective memory through the return of cultural artefacts to Africa.

The ceremony also featured speeches by Niger’s Minister of Cultural Renaissance, Arts and Modernisation, Honourable Assoumana Malam Issa, whose country currently chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Professor Filiga Michel Sawadogo, UEMOA Commissioner for Human Development and Yao Ydo, Director of UNESCO Regional Office for West Africa in Abuja.

The UEMOA Commission and the UNESCO Regional Office commended the excellent relationship between their respective institutions and ECOWAS, particularly regarding joint initiatives for the safeguarding of African cultural heritage in general and that of West Africa in particular.

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, a minute of silence was observed in memory of His Excellency Marcel De Souza, former President of the ECOWAS Commission, who died on 17 July 2019 in Paris, France. He received tributes for his qualities and dedication to integration and sub-regional development.

Abuja, 23rd July 2019. The Ministers of Labour and Employment from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have adopted the recommendations of Labour experts and the Assembly of Social Dialogue Forum (SDF) regarding the harmonisation of labour laws as well as a decent work programme for the region.

The Ministers, on the heels of the deliberations of the Assembly and Experts also endorsed the reports which among others, clearly set forth the tools for the promotion of decent work and employment and the enhancement of greater collaboration between ECOWAS and Ministers in charge of labour and employment in the region.

In order to build a healthy work environment where the rights and dignity of West African citizens are guaranteed, the Ministers reviewed the prevailing deficits in employment and labour procedures, reporting standards, social protection, labour administration, social dialogue and gender while mapping out priorities in the decent work regional programmes.

They also adopted the special recommendation of the members of the ECOWAS tripartite Social Dialogue Forum with the amendments provided.

Specifically, through the directive on minimum standards towards the harmonization of Labour Laws in the region, the ECOWAS Decent Work Regional Programme (DWRP) and the Memorandum on restructuring of the ECOWAS tripartite social dialogue forum, consensus on topical labour issues were built alongside the sharing of best experiences and practices.
In his closing remarks after the adoption of the instruments, the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Niger and chair of session, Mr. Omar Ben Mohamed expressed satisfaction with the level of participation of the delegates at the meeting.

He told delegates that the positives emanating from the meeting pointed to the fact that the set goals and overall objectives had been met.

Minister Mohammed promised to ensure that the ECOWAS Social Dialogue Forum, like other Community Frameworks for dialogue, is provided with a Permanent Secretariat and an adequate budget to enable it to function autonomously as provided in the Supplementary Act establishing the Forum.

The Abuja meeting enabled stakeholders to address topical issues relating to social dialogue and appraise new innovations in regional policies while sharing national experiences in the all-important matter of collective bargaining.