The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is actively addressing the challenge of filling vacant roles following the withdrawal of representatives from the AES countries-Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger-from the regional organization.
The ECOWAS Commission, tasked with managing this process, has formally requested guidance from the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on Recruitment. The aim is to establish clear principles for the fair allocation of these open positions among all member countries, while maintaining high standards of competence.
During the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers on Recruitment held Thursday in Abuja, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the urgency of the matter. He noted that existing staff regulations lack specific directives on distributing vacancies equitably among member states.
Dr. Touray explained, “This special Council meeting arises from necessity. Over the past three years, we have faced difficulties filling vacancies within our institutions because the current staff regulations limit management’s ability to expedite recruitment efficiently.”
He further highlighted, “The bottleneck lies in processing applications and scheduling interviews, which have been slower than the rate at which staff retire. On average, we lose about 13 personnel annually due to retirement, and the volume of applications exceeds the capacity of our recruitment agencies, especially since much of the process remains manual.”
The abrupt exit of a significant number of ECOWAS employees from the AES countries has intensified the challenge of replenishing the workforce.
To address this, the Commission plans to submit a detailed proposal outlining strategies for equitable distribution of vacancies and accelerating recruitment. Dr. Touray assured that the Commission is committed to fairness and balanced representation across all member states.
Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, underscored the importance of fairness and inclusivity in allocating these positions. He also relayed a message from ECOWAS Authority Chairman and Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support from the Commission and Ministerial Council since his leadership began.
“This Council meeting serves two main purposes: to deliberate on the allocation of statutory posts among member states and to address recruitment and employment status of staff from AES countries at Grade P4 and below. These issues are critical indicators of our institution’s credibility and a testament to our regional unity,” Kabba stated.
He added, “Our discussions must prioritize not only equitable distribution but also fairness and inclusiveness, ensuring all members share a unified vision for the future. Decisions should be rooted in transparency, due process, and equity, aligning with our broader regional goals of economic integration, peace, security, and democratic values.”
Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to supporting the ECOWAS Commission in fulfilling its mandate.
“As the host nation, Nigeria is committed to providing all necessary assistance to guarantee the Organization’s continued success. We recognize the critical nature of this recruitment exercise in filling vacancies to enable ECOWAS to function at full capacity,” she affirmed.
“Nigeria remains a reliable partner, ready to contribute actively to strengthening our Community institutions and advancing the noble objectives that define this Organization,” she concluded.
