Following a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by 88 members, the House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement until all controversial clauses are addressed and spelt out.
Moving the motion on Tuesday, a member of the House, Aliyu Madaki, drew attention to the clause which highlights “gender equality” and describes it as a Trojan horse which could violate the morals of the country.The House also mandated its relevant committees to investigate the controversial provisions of the agreement.
The House has also tasked its relevant committees to thoroughly investigate the controversial provisions of the Samoa Agreement and report back within four weeks.
The Samoa Agreement, signed by the Federal Government with the European Union (EU) on June 28, 2024, has sparked widespread controversy, with many perceiving it as an endorsement of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights, which contradicts Nigeria’s laws against same-sex marriages and relationships enacted in 2014.
However, the Nigerian government has firmly refuted these claims, stating that the agreement does not contain any clauses related to LGBTQ matters and that it was signed by the Nigerian constitution. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has threatened legal action against media outlets spreading “insidious and inciting publications” on the issue.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also defended the Federal Government’s endorsement of the Samoa Agreement, declaring that it contains no clause on same-sex marriage and respects Nigeria’s local laws and sovereignty.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the House of Representatives’ call for a suspension of the agreement’s implementation until all controversial clauses are addressed highlights the need for transparency and clarity in international agreements that have far-reaching implications for the country.
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