The United States House of Representatives has approved an amendment that seeks to withhold 100 per cent of certain US financial assistance to Nigeria until the Federal Government demonstrates significant progress in tackling insecurity and protecting citizens.
The amendment, sponsored by Representative Gregory Steube, was adopted through a voice vote on Wednesday. It raises the proposed withholding of affected US assistance from the initially proposed 50 per cent to 100 per cent.
Under the proposal, the affected funds would remain unavailable until the US Secretary of State certifies that the Nigerian government has taken effective measures to prevent and respond to violence across the country and has ensured that those responsible for such attacks are held accountable.
Speaking in support of the amendment, Steube argued that withholding only half of the assistance would be insufficient, saying it would effectively reward the Nigerian government despite what he described as its failure to adequately protect its citizens.
“I rise in strong support for my amendment to increase the withholding threshold for assistance to Nigeria, from 50 percent to 100 percent, while keeping in place benchmarks that demand Nigeria take effective steps to address the violence and persecution that continue to devastate the country.
“Nigeria has faced a horrific wave of violence that its corrupt government has failed to address,” Steube said.
The proposal forms part of broader legislative efforts in the United States aimed at encouraging stronger action by the Nigerian government to improve security, protect vulnerable communities and address persistent violence affecting several parts of the country.
If the measure is eventually passed by the US Senate and signed into law, Nigeria would be required to satisfy the stipulated security benchmarks before the affected US financial assistance could be restored.
The amendment is one stage in the US legislative process and does not by itself immediately suspend assistance. Further legislative approval and presidential assent would be required before the proposal becomes law.
