The ECOWAS Parliament has officially adopted a budget of 19,636,030 Units of Account (UA) for the 2026 financial year, representing a 5% increase from the previous year. This development marks a renewed commitment by the regional legislature to enhance legislative effectiveness, especially in harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for good governance across West Africa.
The budget was adopted during the 2025 Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Speaker of the Parliament, Hadjia Memounatou Ibrahima, described the new budget as “the engine of our commitment to the people of West Africa,” stressing that it will support key missions including the implementation of recommendations from the recent parliamentary seminar on artificial intelligence.
“This budget will enable us to carry out our priority missions, including implementing the conclusions of the seminar on AI, while ensuring virtuous and transparent management of public funds entrusted to us,” she said.
2026 ECOWAS Budget: Key Figures and Priorities
- Total budget: UA 19,636,030
- Increase from 2025: 5% (UA 939,133)
- 2025 budget: UA 18,996,897
- Funding sources:
- Community Levy: UA 19,368,394 (98.64%)
- Other sources: UA 257,636 (1.36%)
The Parliament emphasized that the 2026 budget is a strategic lever for priority projects within the region, with a strong focus on digital transformation, legislative capacity-building, and ethical AI integration.
Poor Compliance With ECOWAS Community Levy Draws Criticism
Despite the progress in budget planning, the Parliament expressed strong disapproval over the continued failure of some member states to fulfill their financial obligations, particularly through the Community Levy.
The ECOWAS Community Levy is a 0.5% tax on goods imported from non-ECOWAS countries, intended to fund the operations of the ECOWAS Commission and its institutions. Speaker Ibrahima called for firm action and possible sanctions against defaulting member states, warning that non-compliance undermines the Parliament’s ability to fulfill its mandate.
Artificial Intelligence in Focus: Toward a Visionary Legal Framework
The budget discussions followed the successful conclusion of the 2025 Second Parliamentary Seminar on Artificial Intelligence, where lawmakers explored AI’s role in enhancing transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement.
Speaker Ibrahima acknowledged both the potential and the ethical risks of AI, especially regarding disinformation and misinformation. She said:
“The recommendations from these reflections will lay the foundation for a visionary regulatory framework, anchored in respect for human rights, inclusion, and democratic values that underpin our Community.”
She added that the Parliament is “laying the first stone for responsible and ethical African ownership of artificial intelligence.”
The ECOWAS Parliament extended appreciation to several key stakeholders for their support in hosting the session and enabling its success, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Nigeria), FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu, Deputy Senate President of Nigeria and ECOWAS First Vice-President, Jibrin Barau
The Speaker also commended all ECOWAS parliamentarians, particularly the Ad Hoc Committees and the Administration, Finance, and Budget Committee, for their “informed recommendations” that shaped the 2026 budget framework
