The ECOWAS Parliament and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) have mapped out strategies on how to collaborate on initiating an active framework to promote integration, through free movement of people , which would expectedly grow business, trade and investment  in the continent.

Indications to this development emerged when the Speaker of the EALA, Rt. Hon Ntakirutimana Joseph paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, Rt Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis in Abuja on Thursday with both sides revealing plan on their work on modalities legislative action to promote integration.

Addressing a press conference after a closed door meeting, Hon Joseph said “ECOWAS and EALA have been working closely together, our aim is to   build an Africa where we will have free movement and free business,” adding that  “Africa should be one and the two  regions can work together to achieve this dream.”

He stressed  that although  his region has challenges  of economic  crises in some of the member  countries including  political  problems, he however insisted that these challenges  can be surmounted through  mediation  and with the support  of ECOWAS via  exchange of ideas and knowledge.

Joseph, who was accompanied on the visit by a member  of the Tanzanian parliament, Dr. Mlozi Shogo, used  the opportunity  to solicit  for the support  of the ECOWAS Parliament  for the candidature of  Dr. Tulia Ackson, the Speaker of the Tanzanian Parliament who is vying for the Speakership of the Inter- Parliamentary Union(IPU). 

According Shogo,  Ackson is a female  lawyer, academic and politician that is said to possess  profound  credibility to lead the IPU, which represents women empowerment and progress and an inspiration to women not only in Africa but to the rest of the world.

Also speaking to reporters during the conference, Speaker Tunis noted that  “free movement, “is an integral part on how we can collaborate more and because we represent   the people of Africa, and we believe we can come up with the resolutions that can enhance free movement of people from West Africa to East Africa and vice versa. That is why I said that the aim is to work together for Africa to become one.”

On the issue of the candidature of Ackson, Tunis, while speaking  when he accompanied Hon Joseph for a visit  to Nigerian  National Assembly said “we are very happy  that African Union has already endorsed her.  If we support her we will be doing so as Africans because she will represent Africa.”

 Deputy speaker of the Nigerian  House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, who received the delegation, said the visit was significant  because it is a step forward in the continent for closer collaboration for mutual  interest and for Africa  to speak  with one voice.

He added that  in unity ” we can tackle problems such ” climate change , human trafficking” especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

 He also encouraged  Ackson in her dream of becoming the Speaker of IPU.