Reps committee calls for partnership, new joint institutions among regional parliaments

The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on University Education at the House of Representatives, Okpolupm Etteh has called for the inauguration of new joint institutions among members of the Organization of African, Caribbean, Pacific States (OACPS)-European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

In a statement by his Media Unit on Saturday, the lawmaker made the call at the end of the first session of OACPS-EU Consultative meeting in Luanda, Angola with the theme, “A New Dawn in OACPS-EU Relations: Towards a People-Led Partnership.”

Etteh who is the member representing Eket/ONNA/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State said the inauguration of the new joint institutions would engender collaboration and cooperation for efficient regional parliamentary operations.

He also commemorated the enactment of the Samoa Agreement, signed on 15 November 2023, which replaced the Cotonou Agreement of 2000 and the former Lomé Convention of 1975.

He, however, noted that Nigeria is among few other countries that are yet to sign the Samoa agreement.

“This event affords members of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly a better ground to inaugurate new joint institutions for effective collaboration among regional parliaments.” He said.

Among the Nigerian delegation, led by Rt. Hon. Dr Adewunmi Onanuga, Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, were Hon. Ishaya David Lalu, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, and Hon. Murtala Usman Banye.