Anti-corruption body kicks against ECOWAS president’s stance on recruitment

Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has kicked against the position of Dr. Omar Alieu-Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission, on vacancies at the commission as he takes the mantle of leadership.

The president was reported to have said during a town hall meeting with staff of the commission on Friday, September 9, 2022, that he would not advertise vacant positions at the commission across all ECOWAS member states.

In a letter delivered by the chairman of CSNAC, Olanrewaju Suraju, to the ECOWAS Commission’s President, the group drew the attention of Touray to Article 18(5) of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993, which stipulates: “In appointing professional staff for the Community, due regard shall be subject to ensuring the highest standards of efficiency and technical competence, to maintaining equitable geographical distribution of posts and gender balance among nationals of all member states.”

The group also maintained that Touray’s decision contravenes Article 9(2b) of the ECOWAS Staff Regulations, which stipulates, “All permanent professional positions declared vacant shall be advertised. Applicants shall be notified of the receipt of application for the positions advertised. The deadline for receipt of applications shall be 45 calendar days after the date of publication.”

Article 9(c) also states, “the positions shall be filled through a competitive recruitment process in which all shortlisted candidates shall appear before the relevant committee.”

Suraju reminded the new ECOWAS president, that as primary custodian of all ECOWAS regulations, laws and policies, he should not be perceived to be condoning any forms of illegality.