Samao Agreement: MPs deny urging Tinubu’s government to suspend implementation over alleged LGBTQ clauses

• The House of Representatives has responded to the report that the Green Chamber has called on the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement
• Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi, said the House was committed to thoroughly examining the partnership agreement with Samoa.
• Akuntunde said there was no demand for a suspension of the agreement or its implementation.

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience in covering metro and government politics

FCT, Abuja – The House of Representatives has rejected calls on the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Accord over alleged LBBTQ clauses.

House Speaker Akintunde Rotimi said the lower house had asked the government to investigate allegedly controversial clauses in the partnership agreement with Samoa.

also read

MPs call on Tinubu to suspend implementation of Samoa agreement due to LGBT allegations

Akintunde said this was to ensure that the agreements were sufficiently consistent with the constitutional provisions, existing laws and Nigeria’s national interests and values.

As The Nation reported, Akintunde made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday, July 10.

“During the debate, concerns were raised about alleged clauses requiring support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community as a precondition 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 lawmakers believe may be inconsistent with Nigeria’s national interests and values, particularly given the absence of a reservation clause.”

He further explained:

“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.

also read

LGBTQ: NBA breaks silence on Samoa agreement controversy

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

LGBTQ: NBA addresses controversy over Samoa agreement

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has responded to the Samoa Agreement controversy.

NBA President Yakubu Maikyau clarified that the Samoa Accord signed by the Nigerian government does not contain any provisions on LGBTQ rights.

Maikyau called for caution and adequate education as negative portrayals of the agreement were being spread along religious and cultural lines.

Source: Legit.ng