The House of Representatives Tuesday asked the federal government to pause the implementation of the Samoa Agreement.
Divergent positions greeted the federal government’s decision to sign the Agreement from which it obtained a 150bn dollar loan with some commentators of the views that it comes with Nigeria signing up to LGBTQ rights.
The House weighed in on the matter during Tuesday’s plenary urging the government to stay action on implementation.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Minority Whip, Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano) and 87 other lawmakers.
While moving the motion on behalf of his colleagues, Rep. Madaki said the agreement violates the nation’s law on LGBTQ and same-sex marriage.
He said: “On June 28, 2024, the federal government signed what is known as the Samoa Agreement with the European Union (EU) to boost food security and inclusive economic development, among other vital areas.
“The agreement allegedly has some clauses that compel underdeveloped and developing nations to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community as condition for getting financial and other supports from advanced societies.
“Article 97 of the Agreement, which states that, ‘no treaty, convention, agreement or arrangement of any kind between one or more member States of European and one or more OACPS Members shall impede the implementation of this Agreement”, is supremacy Clause, and thus violates Nigeria’s sovereignty.
“Some other articles, especially Articles 2.5, 29.5, 36.2, and 88 in the Samoa Agreement that was signed by the federal government may be inimical to the interest of Nigeria as a country and the values of our people as a whole, more so it does not contain a Reservation Clause.
“Article 2.5 states that parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective, and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all countries.
“The phrase gender equality as reported is Trojan Horse for deceptively bringing in all sort of immorality to our country, as gender no longer means two sexes – male and female as traditionally understood, it now includes homosexuality, lesbianism, transgenderism and animalism.
“The signing of such an agreement with the aforementioned clauses, if true, violates our sovereignty and is a clear contravention of Section 124 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“The federal government may have signed the agreement without exhaustive consultations and consideration for possible long-term consequences.”
In his contribution, the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) said the parliament was not carried along in the process of the signing of the agreement, while Nigerians were kept in darkness about what the agreement was all about.
Similarly, the House Chief Whip, Usman Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe), said the House would never support any agreements that are contrary to the belief, norms and culture of Nigerians.
The movers of the motion, therefore, urged the House to thoroughly investigate the agreement. The House adopted the motion and referred it to its relevant committees for further legislative action.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, Rep. Inuwa Garba (PDP, Gombe), said the House was united in rejecting the agreement because it will affect the lives of Nigerians.
