Observatoire Parlementaire, O.N.G.   

Editorial

 

This website is the “News Media” outlet of The Parliamentary Observatory, an N.G.O. specially contituted to empower voters and taxpayers, exercising a "Citizen Control" upon the activities of the Honorable Parliamentarians of the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) whom, once elected, most often fail to be accountable to their Communities, as required by good parliamentary governance.

 

Most of those elected officials are usually absent from their Electoral Constituencies that they are supposed to represent, participate passively in the sessions of their National Assemblees as mere spectators, and vote automatically by suggestions or political affiliations, without identifying the issues in contention.

Those same officials often end their mandates without proposing "Draft Laws" or, contribute effectively to the development of their communities.

 

Through this virtual News and Information site, The Parliamentary Observatory undertakes to make its modest contribution, by reminding to the Honorable Parliamentarians of the ECOWAS, their main missions, duties & responsibilities.

 

The Parliamentary Observatory is structured around a group of concerned voters consisting of:

• Sociologists,

• Journalists,

• Political Scientists,

• Former Parliament Members,

• Business Entrepreneurs,

• Civil Society Personalities,

• The average "Lambda Citizens".

 

The Parliamentary Observatory intends to integrate principles of good governance, thereby promoting parliamentary transparency and accountability, by exercising a "Citizen Control" towards the Honorable Parliamentarians of the ECOWAS, encouraging them to apply:

 

· The Oath to "well and faithfully fulfill the office of Parliament" in accordance with the Constitution,

· The Duty to provide "Draft Laws" to improve conditions in their constituencies,

· Responsibility to support their communities to achieve "Specific Local Objectives in the short and long terms"

· The Initiative to bring the operating concept of the "Governance by the People and for the People" in their localities,

· An Ambition to support their communities to contribute to the realization of a "Local Emerging Plan."

. A Compliance with the new rules and regulations set forth by OHADA (Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa)

 

Activity Reports from Parliamentarians’ personal initiatives, as well as from their respective Parliamentarian Groups, will be regularly posted on this site, to observe and learn about "who does what" among the Honorable Parliamentarians the ECOWAS.

 

Surveys and Questionnaires will be frequently collected through our Parliamentary Observatory from voters, and citizens of Electoral Constituencies, thereby assessing, with transparency, the effectiveness of the Honorable Parliamentarians the ECOWAS.

 

These objective value judgments, among other evaluation and appreciation barometers established by The Parliamentary Observatory, will empower voters to better choose their representatives at the next elections.

 

The Parliamentary Observatory will gradually develop a Parliamentary Index, able to provide a standard and rigorous system of performance evaluation of the Honorable Parliamentarians of the ECOWAS. This index will also evaluate the performance of Parliamentarians, while developing new ways to encourage citizen participation in the parliamentary process.

 

The assessment process is inclusive, and takes into consideration the recommendations of all stakeholders, individuals or legal entities, including:

• Former Parliamentarians who honorably marked their era, and who now advice us with words of wisdom,

• Institutes and University Research & Studies Laboratories, to ensure the legitimacy and validity of our evaluation criteria and indices,

• Civil Society groups concerned about the fate of citizens, and the Efficiency of Good Governance.