President of the Senate, David Mark, on Tuesday, inaugurated the Africa Legislative Summit for Parliamentarians, aimed at promoting integration and democracy on the continent.
The summit is expected to bring together legislators from African countries and other parts of the world for the purpose of exchange of experience and fostering understanding of issues of common interest to their respective parliaments.
Mark, while officially unveiling the summit’s management committee, headed by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba(SAN), explained that the summit, which is the first of its kind in Africa, was meant to give National Assembly the leadership role in facilitating exchange of ideas between legislative and the executive arm of governments at the continental level.
The Management Committee of African Legislative Summit 2013 is expected to organize the maiden Edition in November, 2013.
He said, “The summit will discuss issues of common interest that will improve and deepen democracy as well as opportunities to exchange ideas with other parliaments especially advanced democracies.
“It is a beautiful idea that we must pursue to its logical conclusion. There will be challenges we should be prepared to face to ensure the success of the Summit.”
Mark urged the committee to collaborate with the executive arm of government in order to come up with a blue print that would make the programme a huge success.
He added that the approach of the executive and the legislature to administration may differ but ultimately, “we all have a common goal and that is the welfare and security of the citizenry.”
Responding on behalf of the members of the Committee, Ndoma Egba, said the summit would deepen democracy and foster mutual cooperation between and among parliamentarians in Africa.
He said that recent developments had shown that parliaments were in the forefront of integration and cooperation in the world.
Other members committee include, Ben Nwankwo, Adetumbi Olubunmi, Abubakar Atiku Bugudu, Emmanuel Menga Udende, Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, Simon Osei-Mensa, Inuwa Garba and Eugene Odo.