The ECOWAS Parliament has adopted a UA19,636,030 budget (approx. $26 million) for the 2026 financial year, with a strong focus on deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve legislation, strengthen governance, and enhance accountability across West Africa.
Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, announced the resolution on Saturday during the closing of the 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
She described the budget as “the engine of our commitment to the people of West Africa,” emphasizing that it will allow the Parliament to implement outcomes from its AI seminar while ensuring transparent management of public funds.
The 2026 budget represents a 5% increase compared to 2025, rising by UA939,233 from last year’s UA18,996,897. Of the total, UA19,368,394 (98.64%) will come from the Community Levy, while UA257,636 (1.36%) will be sourced elsewhere.
Despite the upward adjustment, concerns remain about some member states’ failure to remit their full Community Levy contributions. The Parliament warned that sanctions may be applied against defaulting countries. The levy, a 0.5% tax on imports from non-ECOWAS countries, is the bloc’s main source of funding.
The session built on the outcomes of the 2025 Second Parliamentary Seminar on Artificial Intelligence, where legislators explored AI’s potential to modernize parliamentary work and bring ECOWAS institutions closer to citizens.
On the risks of AI, Speaker Ibrahima cautioned against disinformation and ethical challenges, noting:
“The recommendations from these reflections will lay the foundation for a visionary regulatory framework, anchored in respect for human rights, inclusion, and democratic values… We are laying the first stone for responsible and ethical African ownership of artificial intelligence.”
She expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Rivers State Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and Deputy Senate President/ECOWAS First Vice-President Senator Jibrin Barau, among others, for their support in ensuring the success of the sessions.
The Speaker also commended members of the Finance and Budget Committee for their input, which will guide ECOWAS Parliament’s next steps.
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