THE House of Representatives, following a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by 88 members, has urged the Federal Government to suspend implementation of the Samoa Agreement until all controversial clauses are addressed and spelt out.

Moving the motion on Tuesday, July 9, Aliyu Madaki drew attention of the House to the clause that highlights “gender equality,” describing it as a Trojan horse that could violate the morals of the country.

Subsequently, the House also mandated its relevant committees to investigate the controversial provisions of the agreement signed by the Federal Government with the European Union (EU) over alleged recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights.

The agreement had come under public scrutiny following insinuations that it made provision for the protection for LGBT rights, contrary to the anti-same-sex marriages and gay relationships law enacted in 2014.

But the Federal Government had repeatedly denied the existence of any such clause or  provision in the agreement.

At a press conference on Saturday, July 6, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and his Information counterpart, Mohammed Idris, assured that Nigeria won’t enter into an agreement that is antithetical to the constitution and the religious and cultural sensibilities of the country’s heterogeneous people.

Bagudu said Nigeria signed the agreement to boost food security and inclusive economic development, among other vital areas and has nothing to do with LGBT rights.

The EU, its 27-member states and 79 member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), in November last year, signed an agreement in Apia, the capital of the Pacific island country of Samoa.

In the agreement, which succeeded the Cotonou Agreement, the parties are expected to be better equipped to address emerging needs and global challenges, such as climate change, ocean governance, migration, health, peace and security.

Nigeria signed the agreement on June 28, 2024, but it became public knowledge last week.

     In a review of the Samoa Agreement, after it was initially signed in November last year, the EU Parliament observed that the initial draft contained provision for the LGBT, which led many member states to be “reluctant to see the foundation agreement mention sexual orientation and gender identity (LGBTI rights).”

A compromise to commit only to the implementation of existing international agreements on the matter was reached and LGBT rights were expunged from the final agreement and replaced with “gender equality.”

Specifically, Article 2, Clause 5 of the final agreement stated that “the parties shall systematically promote a gender perspective and ensure that gender equality is mainstreamed across all policies.”

It is that clause that has now become the bone of contention, as it it being (mis)construed to mean LGBT rights.