Suspend Samoa Agreement, Reps tell FG

Following 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 signed by the Federal Government with the European Union, have been receiving heavy backlash with many frowning upon what they perceive as according recognition to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, LGBT, rights.

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

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

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, alongside his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Mohammed Idris, had at a press conference on Saturday, 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 had explained that Nigeria signed the agreement to boost food security and inclusive economic development, amongst other objectives.