House of Representatives Calls for Suspension of Samoa Agreement Implementation
By Sakeenah Abdullateef
House of Representatives, on Tuesday, passed a resolution calling on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement, pending an investigation into the controversial pact.
The resolution was passed following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Sani Madaki, the minority whip, and 87 other lawmakers.
The Samoa Agreement, signed on June 28, has sparked controversy following reports that some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) provisions were included in the pact.
However, the Federal Government has clarified that the agreement does not contravene the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and other extant laws.
According to Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, the agreement is strictly for the economic development of the country and does not contain provisions for same-sex marriage.
Despite these assurances, the House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to suspend implementation of the agreement pending an investigation.
The House resolved to investigate the agreement and report back to the House within four weeks.
The Samoa Agreement is a new legal framework for European Union (EU) relations with 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, including Nigeria. The agreement covers six priority areas, including democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility.
The agreement was signed on November 15, 2023, in Samoa, a country in Oceania. Nigeria did not sign the agreement initially, as the Federal Government said it was still studying the pact. The agreement replaces the Cotonou Agreement, which was signed in 2000.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to suspend implementation of the agreement pending an investigation, to ensure that the agreement is in the best interest of Nigeria.
The investigation is expected to shed light on the controversial provisions in the agreement and ensure that Nigeria’s interests are protected. The House of Representatives’ resolution is a move towards transparency and accountability in the country’s international agreements.