The
Council comprises the Minister in charge of ECOWAS Affairs and any
other Minister of each Member State.
Council is responsible for
the functioning and development of the Community. To this end, unless otherwise
provided in the Treaty or a Protocol, Council shall:
-
make recommendations to the
Authority on any action aimed at attaining the objectives of the Community;
-
appoint all statutory appointees
other than the Executive Secretary;
-
by the powers delegated to it
by the Authority, issue directives on matters concerning coordination and
harmonization of economic integration policies;
-
make recommendations to the
Authority on the appointment of the External Auditors;
-
prepare and adopt its rules
of procedure;
-
adopt the Staff Regulations
and approve the organizational structure of the institutions of the Community;
-
approve the work programmes
and budgets of the Community and its institutions;
-
request the Community Court
of Justice, where necessary, to give advisory opinion on any legal questions;
-
carry out all other functions
assigned to it. under this Treaty and exercise all powers delegated to
if by the Authority.
The Council meets at
least twice a year in ordinary session. One of such sessions shall
immediately precede the ordinary session of the authority. An extraordinary
session may be convened by the Chairman of Council or at the request of
a Member State provided that such request is supported by a simple majority
of the Member States.
The office of Chairman of
Council is held by the Minister responsible for ECOWAS Affairs of the Member
State elected as Chairman of the Authority.
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