The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Senator Titus Zam, has officially dismissed allegations of a “snub” involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The clarification follows a heated exchange at the National Assembly involving the Kogi Central representative and staff of the committee.
The controversy began on Monday during a budget defense session for the NCDC. Reports emerged of a confrontation after Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the committee room long after the proceedings had concluded. While the session was scheduled for 10:00 am and wrapped up shortly after 11:00 am, the Senator reportedly arrived around noon. Upon finding the meeting over, she allegedly expressed her displeasure, leading to a series of events that moved from the committee room to the Chairman’s private office.
Witnesses described a tense scene at Senator Zam’s office, where an altercation reportedly broke out between Akpoti-Uduaghan and the committee’s secretary. The situation escalated when an aide to the Kogi Senator began filming the encounter on a mobile phone, prompting one of Zam’s aides to seize the device. This triggered further friction before the Senator eventually departed.
Responding to the incident, Senator Zam clarified that the notion of a “snub” is misplaced because Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is not a member of the NCDC committee. “She was not invited to the budget defense meeting because she is not a member,” Zam stated firmly. He explained that committee memberships are not granted automatically based on a Senator’s home region. Instead, the Senate utilizes a “national character” principle to ensure that development commission committees include representatives from across all geopolitical zones.
Zam pointed out that while Akpoti-Uduaghan represents Kogi State, the state is already well-represented on the commission. He noted that Senator Sani Jibrin serves as the Vice Chairman, and Senator Sunny Karimi is also a standing member. He further illustrated his point by mentioning that several other prominent North Central lawmakers, such as Senator Pam from Plateau State, are also not members of the NCDC committee, while others from the same state, like Senators Plang and Lalong, are included.
According to the Chairman, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s protest centered on her belief that her regional origin entitled her to a seat at the table. Zam characterized this argument as a misunderstanding of Senate protocol. He noted that during their brief exchange, he advised her to take her grievances to the Senate Committee on Selection, which is the body responsible for determining committee assignments.
“She claimed that being from North Central Nigeria, she ought to have been a member,” Zam said. “I told her to approach the Committee on Selection and lodge her complaint. After a back-and-forth, she left.”
The incident has sparked a conversation regarding the administrative structures of the Nigerian Senate and the specific rules governing budget defense sessions. As the 2026 budget cycle continues, the NCDC remains under pressure to prioritize critical sectors like agriculture and security. However, this recent administrative friction highlights the internal complexities of legislative oversight and the strict adherence to membership rosters during high-stakes financial deliberations.
For now, the Senate leadership has not indicated whether further disciplinary action or mediation will be required following the office confrontation. Senator Zam remains resolute that the committee followed standard procedure by conducting the meeting with its authorized members and adhering to the pre-communicated schedule.
