THE ROLE OF ECOWAS IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF WEST AFRICA

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 

Economic Community of West Africa states (ECOWAS) was founded on 28th of May, 1975. It is a regional organization of fifteen countries which include; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d‟ivoire, Gambia. Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Cape Verde, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The ECOWAS treaty was signed on 28th of May, 1975, when the fifteen countries met in Lagos, Nigeria to sign the treaty. ECOWAS has governing bodies that has changed along the  course of the community‟s existence and these bodies include; the Head of State and Government, the Council of Ministers, the Community Parliament, the

Economic and Social Council, the Community of Social Justice, the Executive Secretariat, the Fund and Cooperation, Compensation, Development and Specialized Technical Commission. ECOWAS is considered one of the pillars of the African Economic Community; it was founded in order to achieve „collective self-sufficiency‟ for its member states by creating a single large trading bloc through an economic and trading union. (DR A.B Akinyemi et al (1984))

Its mission has been to foster promotion cooperation andeconomic integrationin all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial matters, social and cultural issues among the member states.( ibid )

TheNigerian economyhas had a truncated history. In the period 1960-1970, the Gross

Domestic product recorded 3.1 per cent growth annually (A.H.EKPO and O.J.UMOH: Online Nigeria Community Portal of Nigeria). During the oil boom era, roughly 1970-1978, GDP grew positively by 6.2percent annually, in the period 1988-1997 which constitute the period of structural adjustment and economic liberalization, the GDP responded to economic adjustment policies and grew at a positive rate of 4.0 per cent (ibid). In years after independence, the period 1980-1988 where industry manufacturing grew negatively 3.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively, Gross Domestic Investment as a percentage of GDP which was 16.3 per cent and 22.8 per cent in the periods 1965-1973 and 1973-1980 respectively, decreased to almost 14 per cent in 1980-1988 and increased to 18.2 per cent in 1991-1998 account balance before official transfers are negative for 1965-1975, 1980-1988 and 1991-1998(ibid). The economy never experienced double digit inflation during the 1960s. By 1976, the inflation rate stood at 23 per cent, it decreased to 11.8 per cent in 1979 and moved to 41 per cent and 72.8 per cent in 1989 and 1995 respectively, by 1998, the inflation rate had however reduced to 9.5 per cent from 29.0 per cent in 1996 (A.H.EKPO and O.J.UMOH: Online Nigeria Community Portal of Nigeria).

Today, as part of moving with the trend of globalization and trade liberalization in the global economic system, Nigeria is a member of signatory to the trade agreements such as IMF

(International Monetary Fund), World Trade Organization, ECOWAS just to mention but a few. The policy response to economic partnership on trade has been to remove trade barriers, reduce tariffs and embark on outward oriented trade policies. Despite all her effort to meet up with the demands to these economic partnership in term of opening up her border, according to the 2007 assessment of trade policy review, Nigeria‟s trade freedom was rated 56 per cent making her the world 131st freest economy while in 2009, it was ranked 117th freest economy, the country‟s GDP was also ranked 161st in the world in February, 2009. In fact, it seems like as the country put greater effort to boost her economic growth by opening up to trade with the global economy the more she becomes worse off relating to her trading partners in term of country output growth(A.H.EKPO and O.J.UMOH: Online Nigeria Community Portal of Nigeria).

However, in the 1980s the economy was in a recession. The on-going economic reform programme is an attempt to put the economy on a recovery path with minimal market. Based on some basic indicators, it appears that the economy performed well inflation. Unemployment rates averaged almost 5 per cent for the period 1976-1998. However, the statistics especially on unemployment must be interpreted with caution. Most job seekers do not use the labour exchanges, apart from the inherent distortions in the country‟s labour during the years immediately after independence and into the oil boom years (Dr. Mohamed (2007) www.

Wilsoncenter.org/…/the-role-of-ecowas-in-achieving-the-economic-integration).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

From its very beginning, ECOWAS hasn‟t been effective. The organization did not have established foundations to deal with logistics, infrastructure, human resources, or strong economy that were needed to realistically promote a regional body. Nigeria is the linchpin of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Over 50% of the ECOWAS

population lives in Nigeria. Nigeria‟s GDP is larger than that of the combined GDP of all the other ECOWAS states put together. Nigeria accounts for the lion share of the annual ECOWAS budget (31%; relative to only 12.6% by the second highest contributor- coted‟ivoire), as well as of the ECOWAS Fund (32% relative to only 13% by coted‟iviore) (Aribisala (2000)www.nigeriadevelopmentandfinanceforum.org). The pre- eminence of the Nigerian economy vis-à-vis the other ECOWAS states, and its correspondingly large financial responsibilities (among others), inevitably raises the question of the value of ECOWAS for Nigeria. Many regional integration schemes have been established in Africa in the bid to attain a market number more than half the size of Nigeria. Moreover, Nigeria‟s domestic industrial production is still insufficient to accommodate the vast demand of its internal market, how much more to provide for significant exports to neighboring ECOWAS states. The effectiveness of this regional organization has not really been felt, Nigeria is still having economic problem. The research work looked at the factors that are preventing West African countries including Nigeria from achieving the ECOWAS objectives.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The broad objective that is considered in this research work is to study the role of ECOWAS in the Economic Development of West Africa. These objectives are:

ü  To examine the contributions of ECOWAS in the economic sector of the sub-region.

ü  To examine the gap between the stated objectives of ECOWAS and the reality of their fulfillment in Nigeria.

ü  To identify the challenges to the fulfillment of ECOWAS objectives in Nigeria.

ü  To suggest and recommend the solutions to these challenges in the West Africa sub regions as whole in Nigeria in particular.

1.4            RESEARCH QUESTIONS

   The research questions that are being considered in this research work include the following;

ü  What in your opinion are the contributions of ECOWAS into the economic development of Nigeria?

ü  To what extent has ECOWAS been able to fulfill its missions in the West Africa sub region and especially in Nigeria?

ü  What are the challenges to the realization of ECOWAS objectives in Africa?

ü  How do you think ECOWAS objectives can be realized?

1.5       SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY. 

In this research work, the role of international trade in the development of economy of any country cannot be over emphasized, especially with the current trend of globalization in Nigeria. Nigeria being part of the global village is not left out of the development world. This research work will be carried out to study the role of ECOWAS in the Economic Development of Nigeria. The findings of this research will transcend beyond mere academic brainstorming, but will be of immense benefit to Federal Agencies, policy makers; intellectual researchers that occasionally prescribe and suggest policy options to the government on economic issues. This research work will also serve as a guide and provide insight for further research on this topic and related field. It will educate the public on various government policies related to economic issues.

1.6       SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This research work looks at Nigeria within the framework of ECOWAS in the last twenty

five years.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

 This research work will be limited to access to original source and documentation in Nigeria due to the past wars. Furthermore, financial resources are limited, and there was tie limitation. In the use of written materials, contemporary textbooks, the use of Journals and paper presented at various seminars/workshop are being considered; the use of primary method of that collection such as questionnaire was also put in place. Also some of these materials would be explored from the internet.

1.8               ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is divided into five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction which contains: Background of the study, Statement of the problem, Objectives of the study, research questions, significance of the study, scope of the study, limitation to the study, organization of the study and the definition of major terms. While chapter two is the Literature review and the theoretical framework. Chapter three reviews research methodology which includes research design, research population, sample and sampling techniques, research instrument, the validity and the reliability of instrument, data collection techniques, and data analysis techniques. Chapter four spelt out the data presentation and data analysis. Chapter five is the conclusion and recommendations.

1.9            DEFINITION OF TERMS

•      ECOWAS: According to Wright (1998:31-33), ECOWAS seems to be an instrument to enforce the dominance of Nigeria in the region, Nigeria is neither able to assume the centric position inside a successful ECOWAS nor able to enforce its dominance

effectively.        

 Masson and Pattillo (2001:31), ECOWAS is supposed to be an economic community. It has its own bureaucracy in pursuit of developing the community into a full-fledged integrated region.

Base on this study, ECOWAS is a regional organization that brings all West African counties together to promote their economy. 

•      ECONOMIC INTEGRATION: according to John (2012) he gave an in-depth

information on economic integration stressing that, economic integration is about member States adopting and implementing measures that would make doing business within the grouping cheaper by removing all constraints to intra-regional trade and investment and adopting measures which are conducive to trade and investment. However, Onah and Ifedayo are customs union, common market, economy union and total integration is referred to as regional economic integration. They also stressed that the objective or purpose of economy integration in developed economy is different from those of the developing economy. Whereas in the former, it serves to maintain and enhance an already existing sustained growth through trade expansion and increased competition, in the latter, it is seen primarily as a means of contributing to economic development.

Base on this study, economic integration is a national and regional development strategy.

•      G.D.P:  According to investor word, G.D.P is an acronym for Gross Domestic Product. It is define as an aggregate measure of production equal to the sum of the gross values added of all resident institution units engaged in production plus any taxes, and minus any subsidies, on products not included in the value of their outputs.

Base on this study, G.D.P is the measurement of a country‟s total output.

•      G.D.I:  According to the investor word, G.D.I is an acronym for Gross Domestic Investment. It is the addition of capital sock in a country that does not include deductions for depreciations of capital that may have been produced previously. 

Base on this study, G.D.I is the total number of investment spending by business and firms located in the country.

•      I.M.F: It is an acronym for International Monetary Funds, it is an international organization that was initiated in 1994 at the Bretton Woods Conference and formally created in 1945 by 29 member countries,  their goal was to assist in the reconstruction of the of the world‟s international payment system post World War ii.

         Base on this study, I.M.F is an organization set up to be of financial assistance to countries       especially the developing countries. 

•      INFLATION: According to the business dictionary, inflation is a sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services.

Base on this study, Inflation is the abnormal increase in price. 

•      TRADE LIBERALIZATION: according to business dictionary, is the removal of or reduction in the trade practices that thwart free flow of goods and services from one nation to another. It includes dismantling of tariff such as duties, surcharges and export subsidies as well as nontariff barriers such as licensing regulations, quotas and arbitrary standard.

Base on this study, trade liberalization is the lessening of government   regulations and restriction is in an economy in exchange for greater participation by private entities.