Senate removes Senator Natasha as Head of Diaspora Committee

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has been removed from her position as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations.

The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s Senate session.

Senator Aniekan Bassey, who represents Akwa Ibom North-East and is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been appointed as the new chairman of the committee.

Akpabio also said that the Senate would review the positions of vice chairpersons next week to ensure a fairer distribution. He noted that some senators currently hold two vice chairmanship roles, and changes will be made so that every senator has at least one leadership role.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, a first-time senator from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was previously the chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content. She lost that position in February and was reassigned to lead the diaspora and NGOs committee.

With her removal from the current post, she no longer leads any committee in the Senate.

Earlier in March, she was suspended from the Senate for alleged misconduct after a dispute with Senate President Akpabio over seating arrangements.