Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, has said successive governments denied Nigerians the opportunity of enjoying the benefits of the treaties and protocols they signed outside the country.
Ossai (PDP, Delta), who spoke at a media briefing organised by the House of Representatives Press Corp, averred that by the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, none of such treaties, protocols and agreements could be legally implemented in Nigeria unless they are domesticated in-country.
The lawmaker said most of these treaties have not been domesticated, adding that if this was done, communities facing oil pollution in the Niger Delta region would be adequately cared for.
He also accused the media of not paying attention to such issues.
According to him, if such treaties and the lack of domesticated, the Executive will be pressured into domesticating such treaties in the interest of the nation.
“The Press has not been showing interest towards that direction. There are a lot of treaties and agreements that Nigeria has signed that could be injurious to Nigeria. There are others that Nigeria has signed that could be harnessed, especially issues of human rights.
“Nigeria signed treaties and yet did not domesticate them. Then, why did you sign it? What is the integrity of signing it? What is the Press talking about as defenders of the masses?
“But you are not changing the narrative so that the Executive can be compelled to fast-track and forward those key treaties that protect the interest of the society. The Executive can be compelled on those treaties that Nigeria has signed on the ability and compensation of the dehumanisation that is happening to the Niger Delta people.
