The PAP’s Committees have an important role to play in assisting the Parliament to oversee its particular areas of responsibility. Aligning with the AU’s commissions could give them the direction they need to ensure the full participation of African people in the development and economic integration of the continent as per the Constitutive Act.

In October last year, the PAP adopted a resolution to align its Committees with the AU’s commissions to ensure relevance, synergy and legitimacy. Each Committee was paired to their AU counterpart and as a result certain powers and responsibilities were identified.

The Committee on Co-operation, International Relations and Conflict Resolution (aligned to the AU’s Peace and Security Commission) analyses matters relating to conflict prevention, management and resolution and combating terrorism. As such the Committee will, among others, consider issues relating to the development of an efficient policy in matters of co-operation and international relations of the Parliament and the Union; consider the conventions and protocols linking the Parliament with regional and international institutions while reporting to the Parliament; carry out examinations on the revision of protocols and treaties of the Union; and assist the Parliament in its efforts towards conflict prevention and resolution.

Aligned with the AU’s Political Affairs Commission, the Committee on Justice and Human Rights is concerned with human rights, democracy, good governance, electoral institutions, civil society organisations, humanitarian affairs, refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons. Its responsibilities include assisting the Parliament in its role of harmonising and co-ordinating the laws of Member States, and promoting respect for, and develop sound principles of, freedom, civil liberties, justice, human and peoples’ rights and the fundamental rights within the Union.

Acting in the domains of energy, transport, communications and infrastructure, the Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology’s AU counterpart is the Infrastructure and Energy Commission. As such the Committee shall consider issues relating to the development of transport and communications infrastructure; assist Parliament to oversee the development and implementation of policies of the Union relating to transport, communication, science and technology and industry; consider issues relating to the use of science and technology for the development of the continent; and assist Parliament to supervise the development policies and the implementation of Union programmes for industry, science, technology and energy.

Aligning with the AU’s commissions could give them the direction they need

The Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs is aligned to the AU’s Social Affairs Commission and focuses on health, children, drug control, population, migration, labour and employment and sports. Its aim is to consider strategies and programmes to improve the lives of African people. It also considers issues relating to regional and international co-operation in strategic planning and implementation of social development and health policies and programmes. The Committee may need to be amplified to specifically provide for the examination of policies, strategies, reports and recommendations relating to drug control, population, labour, migration, employment and sports.

With the AU’s Human Resources, Science and Technology Commission as its counterpart, the Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources is concerned with education, information technology communication, youth, human resources, science and culture. In line with this, it considers issues relating to the development of human resources in Member States, while assisting Parliament to promote policy development and implement all relevant Union programmes.

The Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters (aligned to the AU’s Trade and Industry Commission) considers matters relating to the development of sound policy for cross-border, regional and continental concerns within the areas of trade, customs and immigration; assists the PAP to oversee relevant organs or institutions and Union policies; and assists the PAP to oversee external trade.

Tasked with considering the development of common regional and continental policies in the agricultural sector, the Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment is aligned to the AU’s Rural Economy and Agriculture Commission. It also assists the PAP to oversee and assist with the harmonisation of policies for rural and agricultural development while promoting the development policy and implements relevant Union programmes.

The AU’s Economic Affairs Commission’s counterpart, the Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs, examines the draft estimates of the Parliamentary budget, discusses the Union’s budget and makes appropriate recommendations, examines and reports to the PAP on problems with implementing the annual budget, while assisting Parliament to execute its role of establishing sound economic, monetary as well as investment policies.

The Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disability as well as the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline don’t have AU counterparts. The latter only has internal functions and assists with the political management of the PAP.

The Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with Disability’s powers and functions, however, are cross-cutting and relate to all AU commissions. The Committee considers issues relating to the promotion of gender equality and assists Parliament to oversee the development of policies and activities of the Union relating to family, youth and people with disabilities. The Committee may call for information and reports regarding gender equality and related matters from any organ of the AU.

The areas of intervention of the AU commissions, aligned to the PAP’s Committees, are vast and a brief look revealed a plethora of declarations, programmes, reports and strategies.

Committees will have to acquaint themselves with the areas that should be prioritised to exercise their consultative and advisory powers in a focused and meaningful way.