2025, Vol. 7, Issue 6, Part B

Author(s): Ileola Folasade Nelson

Abstract: This study is based on a comparative analysis of the mandates, oversight structures and institutional performance of three African regional parliamentary institutions that have attempted economic integration in the region; ECOWAS Parliament, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The study adopted a systematic literature review method guided by the PRISMA guidelines to review evidence of peer-reviewed journals, parliamentary reports, and scholarly theses to accomplish the research objectives. A thematic narrative synthesis was used to analyse the extracted data from the included studies. The findings revealed that there is a great variation in treaty-derived powers among the three regional parliamentary institutions. Also, when compared to PAP and ECOWAS, EALA was found to exhibit wide-ranging legislative competence and oversight exercise. These differences are related to contrasting effects of policy harmonisation, budget compliance, and trade facilitation. The findings also revealed that with the existence of dedicated oversight institutions of parliaments, including the inquiry powers, debates, resolutions, and public hearings, it is likely to affect the budgetary decision and harmonisation of policies in the region. Nonetheless, in spite of the fragmentary achievements, all three parliaments are experiencing similar drawbacks such as treaty restrictions, enforcement gaps and lack of extensive citizen participation mechanisms. The results imply the necessity of improving the parliamentary mandates by means of treaty amendment, institutional capacity building, and implementing uniform reporting systems on performance. The reforms are instrumental to improving democratic legitimacy and integration roles of parliaments in the region.

DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2025.v7.i6b.574

Pages: 140-151 | Views: 30 | Downloads: 3

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