The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission, Titus Zam, has clarified that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is not a member of the committee, dismissing her claim to the contrary.
Zam, who represents Benue North-West in the Senate of Nigeria, made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja while reacting to the senator’s allegation that her name was omitted from the committee’s attendance register.
Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier protested her exclusion following the committee’s budget defence session with the commission’s management, expressing displeasure that she was not recognised as a participant.
Responding, Zam maintained that the Kogi Central lawmaker was neither invited nor expected at the meeting because she is not listed among committee members. He explained that committee composition reflects a mix of senators from different regions to promote national balance.
He noted that two senators from Kogi serve on the committee — Isah Jibrin, who is vice chairman, and Sunday Karimi, a member.
Zam added that not all senators from the North Central zone sit on the committee, citing Pam Mwadkon as another example of a lawmaker from the region who is not included, while Diket Plang and Simon Lalong are members.
According to Zam, Akpoti-Uduaghan later visited his office to protest her exclusion, and he advised her to channel any complaint through the Senate Committee on Selection, which is responsible for committee assignments.