By Nafisat Makinde
In a significant shake-up, the Nigerian Senate has removed Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the change during Thursday’s plenary, stating: “There is a change in the committee chairmanship. The Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations will now be chaired by Senator Aniekan Bassey.”
This development comes after a tumultuous period in the Senate, including a heated exchange between Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio over seating arrangements in February. The tension escalated further on March 6 when Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from Senate proceedings after publicly accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s removal raises questions about the future of the committee’s initiatives and the dynamics within the Senate. Senator Aniekan Bassey takes over as the new Chair, tasked with overseeing diaspora affairs and non-governmental organisations.
