Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has been elected as the Chairman of the Monetary and Financial Affairs Committee of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The election took place on Tuesday during a session of the parliament in Midrand, South Africa.
Alongside Kalu, Christine Katempa, a lawmaker from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was elected as the Deputy Chairman of the committee.
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is the legislative arm of the African Union (AU), made up of 55 member states from across the continent. It plays a key role in policymaking and oversight, with the long-term goal of evolving into a fully empowered legislative body elected by universal suffrage.
The chairmanship of the Monetary and Financial Affairs Committee was previously held by Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak from Ghana, who recently stepped down following his nomination as a minister. The position, which is one of the highest roles assigned to the West African caucus of PAP, was then left open for a new leader.
PAP President Fortune Charumbira announced Kalu’s appointment after his nomination by the West African Caucus was approved by the plenary of the parliament.
A statement from Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, noted that Kalu’s nomination was put forward by Alhagie Mbow, the Chairman of the West African Caucus. The letter recognized Kalu’s contributions to the Nigerian Parliament, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), where he also leads a steering committee.
In the letter read by PAP President Charumbira, the West African Caucus stated that Kalu “is the most qualified person for the job and has been unanimously endorsed by the regional caucus to replicate his good works at ECOWAS in PAP.”
The statement also noted that Kalu’s parliamentary efforts have gained international recognition from bodies such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the ECOWAS Parliament, highlighting his growing influence in regional and global legislative affairs.
