0
0
Embattled Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has been removed as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Thursday, July 10. He named Senator Aniekan Bassey, who represents Akwa Ibom North-East under the All Progressives Congress (APC), as her replacement.
“The new chairman is Distinguished Senator Aniekan Bassey, and it will take effect from today,” Akpabio declared on the Senate floor.
This marks the second time Akpoti-Uduaghan, a first-term senator elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been removed from a committee leadership role in the 10th National Assembly.
She was initially appointed Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content but was removed in February. She was subsequently assigned to the Diaspora and NGOs committee, from which she has now been ousted.
Akpabio also hinted at a broader shake-up of committee roles, particularly vice chairmanships, to promote equity among senators.
“We will make some changes to our vice chairmanship positions next week. Some senators currently hold two vice chairmanships. Every senator should either be a chairman or a vice chairman so we can balance the situation,” he said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s latest removal follows her suspension in March for alleged gross misconduct after a confrontation with the Senate President during plenary.
