Opinion by OLU. IBEKWE
The
President of the Republic of Kenya, His
Excellency William Ruto, recently emphasized the importance of submitting
the African Union’s budget to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) before it is
approved by the Assembly of the Union. President
Ruto, the newly appointed African Union Champion for Institutional Reforms,
made this call during the opening of the African Development Bank Annual
Meetings in Nairobi in May this year.
This
advocacy by the new AU Champion for Institutional Reform is significant,
representing a refreshing push towards aligning the AU with the founders'
vision of an empowered Parliament. The African Union (AU) embodies a collective
vision of unity, cooperation, and progress across the African continent.
Central to the AU's mission is the effective management of resources, including
its budget, to support initiatives, programs, and projects that benefit African
nations and their citizens. In this context, the role of the Pan-African Parliament
(PAP) in reviewing and making recommendations on the AU budget is crucial for
promoting transparency, accountability, and democratic governance within the
organization.
The
Protocol Establishing the PAP clearly outlines the mandate of the parliamentary
body, including its role in budgetary matters. Article 11.1 of the Protocol
empowers the PAP to “examine, discuss or express an opinion on any matter,
either on its own initiative or at the request of the Assembly or other policy
organs, and make any recommendations it may deem fit relating to, inter alia,
matters pertaining to respect for human rights, the consolidation of democratic
institutions and the culture of democracy, as well as the promotion of good
governance and the rule of law.” Specifically, Article 11.2 of the Protocol
provides for the PAP to discuss “the budget of the Community and make
recommendations thereon prior to its approval by the Assembly.” This provision
reflects the AU's commitment to democratic principles, parliamentary oversight,
and inclusive decision-making processes.
In
recognition of the PAP's envisioned role in the AU governance architecture, the
Assembly of the Union stated in the Durban Declaration in Tribute to the
Organization of African Unity and on the Launching of the African Union
(ASS/AU/Draft/Decl. 2 (I), February 28, 2004, Sirte, Libya): “We recommit
ourselves to ensuring the early establishment of the Pan-African Parliament in
order to provide the common platform for our peoples and civil society
formations to actively participate in discussions and decision-making on the
challenges facing our continent; we undertake to implement appropriate policies
for the promotion of the culture of democracy, good governance, the respect for
human rights and the rule of law, and the strengthening of democratic
institutions which will consolidate the popular participation of our peoples on
these issues.”
Involving
the PAP in budget discussions and recommendations is consistent with the
founders' vision, enhancing transparency, fostering democratic participation,
and ensuring that the budget reflects the needs and priorities of African
citizens as represented by their elected parliamentarians. It allows for
parliamentary scrutiny, oversight, and input into budgetary decisions,
promoting checks and balances within the AU's financial processes.
Engaging
the PAP in budget discussions aligns with principles of good governance,
accountability, and inclusivity, providing a platform for parliamentary
representatives to voice concerns, propose amendments, and advocate for budget
allocations that support AU programs, initiatives, and mandates beneficial to
member states and their populations. This engagement promotes transparency by
allowing parliamentarians, as representatives of African citizens, to
scrutinize financial allocations, expenditures, and priorities within the AU
budget. Such transparency fosters public trust and confidence in the AU's
financial management processes.
Parliamentary
review of the AU budget and oversight ensures accountability by holding AU
institutions and officials accountable for their financial decisions and
resource utilization. The PAP can assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and
impact of budgetary allocations in achieving AU objectives and mandates. For
instance, Agenda 2063, conceived and implemented with little parliamentary
oversight, could benefit from such scrutiny. Although the AU celebrated the
10th anniversary of Agenda 2063 last year, many Africans remain unaware of the
program. This is why the Twenty-Seventh Ordinary Session of the Executive
Council (2015) in Johannesburg, South Africa (Doc.EX.CL/920(XXVII)) encouraged
PAP to support the popularization of the AU Agenda 2063 within Member States,
alongside the Commission and other stakeholders. The Twenty-Ninth Ordinary
Session of the Executive Council (July 2016) in Kigali, Rwanda (Doc.
EX.CL/963(XXIX)), called upon the PAP to continue working with National and
Regional Parliaments and ECOSOCC to mobilize its constituency to ensure Agenda
2063 is integrated as Africa's vision and planning framework through
legislative enactment to facilitate institutionalization.
Engaging
the PAP in budget discussions will enable the parliament to play its expected
role in popularizing the AU Agenda 2063 and ensuring that diverse perspectives,
priorities, and voices from across Africa are considered in budgetary
decisions. Parliamentarians can advocate for budget allocations that address
the needs and concerns of member states and promote inclusive development. Such
a review role will strengthen oversight mechanisms within the AU by providing
an additional layer of scrutiny and checks on financial matters, consistent
with practices in Member States where national budgets are passed by
parliaments. This oversight will contribute to sound financial management, risk
mitigation, and prevention of financial improprieties or mismanagement.
Above all,
the involvement of the PAP in budget review aligns with democratic principles
of governance, separation of powers, and accountability to elected
representatives. It will reinforce the AU's commitment to democratic norms,
institutional transparency, and participatory decision-making.
Therefore,
promoting transparency, accountability, and democratic participation by
engaging the parliamentary body in meaningful discussions and recommendations
regarding the AU budget is crucial. Finding a balanced approach that respects
the roles and responsibilities of both the executive and parliamentary branches
can strengthen democratic governance and effective financial management within
the African Union.
As
Africa's premier continental legislative body, the Pan-African Parliament plays
a pivotal role in promoting democratic governance, advancing continental
integration, and representing the interests of African citizens. Empowering the
PAP to review and make recommendations on the AU budget is not only a
constitutional mandate but also a fundamental aspect of fostering democratic
oversight, transparency, and accountability within the African Union.
In
conclusion, sending the AU budget to the Pan-African Parliament for discussion
and recommendations before approval by the Assembly of the Union is essential
for strengthening democratic governance, promoting inclusive decision-making,
and enhancing the AU's effectiveness in delivering on its commitments to the
people of Africa. It is a step towards a more transparent, accountable, and
responsive continental organization that prioritizes the interests and
aspirations of African nations and their citizens.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Comment expressed do not reflect the opinion of African Parliamentary News