In response to a motion of national importance sponsored by 88 members of the Nigerian House of Representatives, the Nigerian government has been told to halt the implementation of the Samoa Agreement until all contentious clauses are thoroughly examined and clarified.
Moving the motion on Tuesday, Aliyu Madaki, representing Dala Federal Constituency of Kano state, expressed concern about the clause highlighting “gender equality” and described it as a Trojan horse.
The House also mandated its relevant committees to scrutinise the controversial provisions of the agreement.
Controversy has trailed the Samoa Agreement signed by the government with the European Union, with many outraged by what they believe was the recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights by the Nigerian government.
However, in an attempt to clear the air, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, alongside his counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria would not enter into any agreement that would violate the constitution or would conflict with the religious and cultural sensibilities of Nigerians, adding that the deal was signed to boost food security and inclusive economic development.
After reviewing the Samoa Agreement signed last November, the European Parliament acknowledged that the initial draft contained the LGBT provision. Still, it noted that the term was replaced with “gender rights” after several members expressed concerns over the use of “LGBT rights.”