Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliament has cautioned African countries against hasty adoption the trending Artificial Intelligence (AI) in parliamentary business.

This is  as experts have urged the ECOWAS parliament to emphasise the need for a unified and structured framework for AI integration, supported by ethical guidelines, to maximise benefits, while reducing risks.

These were stated yesterday  at the second 2025 ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar/Extraordinary Session   in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

While reacting to some of the presentations made at the plenary, Guy Marius Sagna (Francophone) and Laadi Ayamba (Anglophone), among other lawmakers, noted that the legislators lack in depth knowledge of technology and need gradual sensitisation of the new trend.

They stressed that there should be extensive advocacy on  AI and the need for lawmakers in Africa, particularly ECOWAS subregion, to embrace the new development. 

They argued that the use of AI in law making and other sectors would  have more demerits than good on the society, especially in the workplace.

Laadi Ayamba said: “Our children are able to socialise because they are always using phones. They are very busy, they do not relate with their parents and siblings because of phones and now we are going to AI.

“70 per cent of AI should be what we should be looking at. Can we listen to ourselves and ask ourselves if we are doing good to ourselves.  Yes, AI is being introduced but we should not let ourselves to swallow it hook, line and sinker. 

What we need to do is to give that sensitisation as much as we can, we should let our people understand that this is not something that we should embrace and forget about who we are and what we are trying to put across.

Let’s ask ourselves that question, are we able to? No. So let’s be conscious of embracing AI and like my colleagues rightly said, we will be selling the minds, the brains, the thinking, the forward matching of our children and grand children to those who already grown pass us hundred times.”

Ayamba added: “It is a good idea, but let us hasten slowly, let’s make sure that we do it consciously, let us beware of where we are coming from and let us ensure that we do it properly.”

The lawmakers maintained that, while they were elected to represent, protect and defend the interests of their constituents, it would be uncommendable to legislate laws detrimental to members of the public. 

The parliamentarians said  the ECOWAS sub-region lacks AI space for the innovation and called for wider campaign even down to the rural areas, before introducing it for public use.

They further argued that Africa is not prepared for AI adoption because many countries are deep in corruption and poor governance, while expressing the fear that it would make people lazy, adding that with its adoption, people’s data or privacy could be at risk. 

In his presentation titled “AI Development in the Security Sector,” Prof Uche Mbanaso, noted that the integration of AI deployment in the security sector is poised to transform regional security and safety.

He also noted that “Challenges such as over-reliance on AI, diminished creative, innovative and critical thinking skills, data privacy risk, and dishonesty are growing concerns.”

He advised that while AI holds significant potential for advancing peace, “counterterrorism, and public safety, its practical implementation depends on tackling issues related to accuracy, cognitive disenchantment and ethics.”

Prof Mbanaso added that a balanced approach is crucial to provide a unified, fair, efficient, and responsible peace with AI support settings.

Also, in his presentation on “AI for Parliamentary Efficiency,” Christian Odo advocated legislative frameworks that would make law-making speedy and seamless. 

Odo, while admitting that the use of artificial intelligence would create unemployment, said the innovation will help parliamentarians in having effective and efficient drafting of documents and reduce burdensome.

“Parliaments are knowledge-driven institution that process large amounts of information, ranging from legislative texts to budget reports and citizens petitions. Artificial Intelligence offers tools to enhance efficiency, transparency, and oversight in governance.”

He said as legislators and representatives, they are central in ensuring that AI adoption aligns with democratic institutions. 

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