Law Makers Seek Suspension of Samoa Agreement

Amid the controversy trailing the Samoa Agreement, 88 members of the House of Representatives have moved a motion urging the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the contentious accord until all the clauses are addressed and spelt out.

The Samoa Agreement which earlier signed by the Federal Government with the European Union, received heavy backlash with many frowning upon what they thought was the recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, LGBT, rights.

In moving the motion on Tuesday, a member of the House, Aliyu Madaki, drew attention to the clause which highlights “gender equality” and described it as a Trojan horse which could violate the morals of the country.

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The House also mandated its relevant committees to investigate controversial provisions of the agreement.

However, at a press conference on Saturday, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, alongside his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria won’t enter into an agreement that was antithetical to the Constitution as well as the religious and cultural sensibilities of the heterogeneous people of the country.

Bagudu added that Nigeria signed the agreement to boost food security and inclusive economic development, amongst other objectives.