ECOWAS Parliament Moves To Adopt AI For Legislative Efficiency

The Parliarment of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has moved to follow Artificial Intelligence (AI) arsenic a instrumentality to heighten ratio successful the legislative functions of the determination parliamentary body.

This was disclosed by the Speaker of the determination legislature, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, successful her remarks during the closing ceremonial of the 2025 Second Parliamentary Seminar successful Port Harcourt, Rivers State, connected Wednesday, with the taxable “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development successful the ECOWAS Region.”

The three-day seminar featured presentations by experts, sheet discussions and robust statement by the Parliamentarians connected the value of the exertion to legislative functions, arsenic good arsenic accent connected the regulatory model to mitigate its risks.

The Speaker, who was represented by the Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billay Tunkara, described AI arsenic an “irreversible revolution”, stressing that wrong a abbreviated clip it has redefined and transformed the aboriginal of West African economies, nine and governance.

“Within a abbreviated time, AI has moved beyond the realm of subject fabrication to go a almighty unit successful our satellite driving galore changes successful each areas of life. At the aforesaid clip it is challenging our shared values and cardinal quality rights.

“AI erstwhile decently harnessed by parliament volition guarantee informed deliberation, optimized authorities and enhanced parliamentary oversight.

“It provides america with the means to marque our enactment much efficient, much transparent and much responsive to citizens’ expectations. It is up to america each to clasp this tool, bid our unit and follow our regulations and rules of procedures to accommodate this caller technology,” the Speaker said.

According to Ibrahima, the seminar marks the starting constituent for a corporate and decisive attack to AI by ECOWAS Parliament, adjacent arsenic she expressed optimism that recommendations from the gathering volition construe to factual and ambitious enactment plans.

During the deliberations, galore lawmakers had acknowledged the necessity of the exertion successful the existent planetary evolution, but expressed concerns astir the threats it poses and urged a cautious attack to its adoption successful bid not to harm the portion that is characterized by vulnerabilities associated with small infrastructure.

But arsenic the portion grapples with the world of AI revolution, it has to find ways to domesticate it and navigate the delicate equilibrium betwixt embracing AI’s transformative imaginable and preserving the quality -centered values that underpins antiauthoritarian governance.

The seminar volition beryllium followed connected Thursday by the 2025 Second Extraordinary league of the 6th legislature successful the oil-rich city.