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Senator Titus Zam Clarifies Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Non-Membership in NCDC Committee
Senator Titus Zam, who chairs the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), has publicly refuted claims made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP-Kogi) regarding her participation in the committee’s recent meeting. Contrary to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s assertions, Zam confirmed that she is not a member of the committee and therefore was not present at the session held with NCDC leadership on Monday, February 16.
Dispute Over Attendance Sparks Controversy
The disagreement escalated when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted Senator Zam in his office, alleging that her name was deliberately left off the attendance list for the committee meeting. She expressed frustration over being excluded from official communications and media channels that disseminate information about the committee’s activities. In a widely circulated video, the senator was heard vocally protesting, emphasizing her commitment to representing her constituents and refusing to be sidelined by her peers.
Official Response from Senator Zam
In response, Senator Zam firmly stated that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is not part of the NCDC committee and was never invited to the budget defense meeting. He highlighted that two other senators from Kogi State—Senator Isah Jibrin, who serves as his vice-chairman, and Senator Sunday Karimi—are the official members representing the state on the committee.
“She’s not a member of the committee and was not invited to the budget defense meeting. After the meeting, Senator Natasha arrived hours later to complain about not being invited. I informed her that since she is not a member, she could not have been invited. Many senators from the North Central zone are not on this committee because membership is distributed across various development commissions to ensure national representation,” Zam explained.
Broader Context of Committee Membership
Senator Zam further illustrated the committee’s membership structure by citing Senator Pam Mwadkon from Plateau State, who is also not a member of the NCDC. Instead, Senators Diket Plang and Simon Lalong represent Plateau on the commission. He noted that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s assumption that all senators from the North Central region should automatically be members of the NCDC committee is a misunderstanding of the Senate’s selection process.
Resolution and Next Steps
The exchange between the two senators concluded with Senator Zam advising Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to formally raise her concerns with the Senate Committee on Selection, which oversees committee appointments. After some discussion, the senator left Zam’s office.
This incident underscores the complexities of committee assignments within the Nigerian Senate, where representation is carefully balanced to reflect the country’s diverse geopolitical zones. As of 2024, the Senate continues to review and adjust committee memberships to enhance legislative efficiency and inclusivity.
