Okpolupm Etteh, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on University Education in the House of Representatives, has urged the inauguration of new joint institutions among members of the Organization of African, Caribbean, Pacific States (OACPS)-European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Etteh made this call at the conclusion of the first session of the OACPS-EU Consultative meeting in Luanda, Angola, with the theme, “A New Dawn in OACPS-EU Relations: Towards a People-Led Partnership,” according to a statement from his Media Unit on Saturday.
Representing the Eket/ONNA/Esit Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, Etteh emphasized that the establishment of these new joint institutions would foster collaboration and cooperation, enhancing the efficiency of regional parliamentary operations.
He also acknowledged the enactment of the Samoa Agreement on November 15, 2023, which replaced the Cotonou Agreement of 2000 and the former Lomé Convention of 1975. Notably, Nigeria is among a few countries that have yet to sign the Samoa agreement.
Etteh sees the conclusion of this event as an opportune moment for members of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly to inaugurate new joint institutions, facilitating effective collaboration among regional parliaments.
The Nigerian delegation, led by Rt. Hon. Dr Adewunmi Onanuga, Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, included Hon. Ishaya David Lalu, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, and Hon. Murtala Usman Banye.
