Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments at a virtual meeting yesterday commenced deliberation on ways by which African countries can get debt relief for the external loans taken by them.
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by Mr. Lanre Lasisi, special adviser on media and publicity to the speaker of the house of representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
He said the agreement was reached at the official formation and launching of the Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments (CoSAP), which was initiated by Gbajabiamila.
According to the statement entitled ‘Gbajabiamila, other African speakers take measures for debt cancellation…Nigeria to host maiden CoSAP confab in 2021,’ the parliament also resolved to improve oversight over loan approvals and endure judicious utilisation of loans in their respective countries.
The presiding officers were said to have stated their commitment to advocating for debt relief and ensuring that all resources made available from the debt relief efforts are transparently used and fully accounted for.
In his remarks, Gbajabiamila emphasised the need for advocacy for the expansion and the buy-in of other African Speakers and Heads of Parliaments.
He said the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Ms Gabriela Barron, had shown tremendous support for CoSAP.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting noted that having had two meetings of the CoSAP, with the vision of Debt Cancellation Campaign Initiative, the members set for themselves some objectives that included to discuss and agree on a ‘Plan of Action’ on how to collaborate and contribute in the ongoing campaign for Africa’s debt relief.
The presiding officers include Tagesse Chafo, Speaker, House of Peoples, Ethiopia; Aaron Oquaye, Speaker of Parliament, Republic of Ghana; and Justin Muturi, Speaker, National Assembly, Kenya.
