Sen. Natasha Akpoti not a member of NCDC Committee – Senator Zam

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Senator Titus Zam (Benue North-West), has clarified that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP-Kogi Central) is not a member of the committee, contrary to claims made by the Kogi lawmaker.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, Zam said Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations that her name was omitted from the committee’s attendance register during its budget defence were unfounded. He explained that the senator arrived several hours after the meeting had concluded and had not been invited because she is not a member of the NCDC Committee.

“She’s not a member of the committee and was not invited to the budget defence meeting. Two senators from Kogi are members: Sen. Isah Jibrin, my vice-chairman, and Sen. Sunday Karimi,” Zam said.

The committee chairman added that membership of development commission committees is mixed across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to ensure national representation, and many senators from other states are similarly not members. He cited Sen. Pam Mwadkon of Plateau State as an example, noting that she is also not on the committee.

Zam said the disagreement escalated when Akpoti-Uduaghan and her aides attempted to seek clarification in his office, resulting in a brief argument. He advised her to approach the Senate Committee on Selection to lodge any complaint regarding committee membership.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s media team had earlier claimed that aides attached to the committee chairman confronted them and seized a cinematographer’s phone during the exchange, describing the incident as unacceptable.

Zam urged public understanding, emphasising that committee membership rules follow established Senate procedures and aim to maintain fairness and national character.