By Fatou Krubally
Speaker of The Gambia’s National Assembly, Fabakary Tombong Jatta has called on African parliaments to move beyond their traditional oversight responsibilities and take a leading role in advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 development vision.
Jatta made the call while addressing the Conference of Speakers of African Parliaments held at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, where he urged lawmakers across the continent to take greater ownership of the AU’s long-term development framework.
He described Agenda 2063 as a “solemn intergenerational covenant” and said its success would depend not only on commitments made by African leaders but also on the ability of national parliaments to translate continental priorities into tangible outcomes for citizens.
“For this covenant to be honoured, national parliaments must transition from being passive observers to becoming the proactive engines of continental transformation,” Jatta told the gathering.
The Gambian Speaker said legislatures have a critical role in achieving Africa’s aspirations through lawmaking, budget approval and oversight of government programs.
He stressed that parliamentary institutions must ensure that Agenda 2063 objectives were integrated into national policies, development plans and public spending priorities.
Highlighting The Gambia’s experience, Jatta said the country’s National Development Aspirations were closely aligned with the objectives of Agenda 2063, noting that the National Assembly continued to contribute through legislation and oversight of government programs.
He called on African parliamentary leaders to promote the ratification and domestication of African Union treaties and protocols, describing these measures as essential for strengthening regional integration and harmonizing development efforts.
Jatta also urged governments and legislatures to align national budgets with Agenda 2063 priorities, particularly in areas such as infrastructure development, youth empowerment and gender equality.
He said adequate investment in these areas would be critical to achieving inclusive growth, economic transformation and sustainable development across Africa.
The Conference of Speakers of African Parliaments brought together legislative leaders from across the continent to discuss the role of parliaments in advancing Agenda 2063 and strengthening democratic governance.