MPs deny calls for Tinubu government to suspend implementation of Samao Agreement

The House of Representatives has rejected claims that it asked the government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement.

According to The Nation, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi, clarified in a statement that the resolution of the House of Representatives was to investigate the allegedly controversial clauses in the partnership agreement with Samoa.

Naija News learned that the aim is to ensure that these clauses are consistent with constitutional provisions, existing laws and national interests and values.

Rotimi explained that the Green Chamber had also called on the federal government to ensure comprehensive consultations and the involvement of all stakeholders on issues related to the agreement.

“These decisions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance entitled “Allegedly controversial partnership agreement with Samoa by the Federal Government”, tabled by the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano), and co-sponsored by 88 MPs.”, said Rotimi.

The motion, which concerned the partnership agreement with Samoa aimed at improving food security and promoting inclusive economic development, sparked considerable debate when it was presented in the Green Chamber.

During the debate, concerns were raised about alleged clauses requiring support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community as a prerequisite for financial and other assistance from developed countries.

In addition, concerns have been raised about several specific articles of the agreement, including articles 2.5, 29.5, 36.2 and 88, which some MPs believe may be inconsistent with Nigeria’s national interests and values, particularly in the absence of a reservation clause.

MP Aliyu Sani Madaki argued that Article 97 of the agreement, which asserts the primacy of the agreement over any conflicting treaty involving member states of the European Union (EU) or the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), potentially violates Nigeria’s sovereignty.

In his response, Speaker of the House of Representatives Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) clarified that, contrary to public speculation, the agreement in its official form does not contain any provisions relating to a $150 billion fund nor any clauses to promote LGBT rights in Nigeria.

House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) stressed the importance of parliamentary oversight and underlined the need for transparency in contract negotiations, citing Section 12 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended in 1999) which requires parliamentary involvement in such matters.

“It is important to clarify that the House of Representatives has neither decided to call for the suspension of the agreement nor the suspension of its implementation, as some media houses falsely reported.”, added Rotimi.

Instead, the House of Representatives decided to hold hearings to thoroughly examine the partnership agreement with Samoa for all controversial clauses.

In addition, the House of Representatives instructed its Committees on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, Justice, and National Planning and Economic Development to work with relevant stakeholders to resolve any ambiguities in the agreement. The committees are to report back to Parliament within four weeks.

Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to shaping Nigeria’s foreign policy in line with national interests and stressed in its Legislative Agenda 7 (Influencing and Directing Nigeria’s Foreign Policy) the need to align constitutional requirements with the Treaty Ratification Act to ensure consistency and transparency.