From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Senate has replaced Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), appointing Senator Aniekan Bassey of Cross River State as her successor.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the change during Thursday’s plenary session.
“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”, he said.
In a minor reshuffle earlier in February, Senator Natasha was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content and reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee.
Natasha was originally appointed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content following her swearing-in as Senator in November 2023.
However, on February 4, 2025, Senate President Akpabio led a reshuffle of committee leadership, removing her from Local Content and reassigning her to chair the Committee on Diaspora and NGOs.
Her tenure as Chair of the Diaspora and NGOs committee was abruptly disrupted again when, on March 6, 2025, she was suspended for six months over allegations of misconduct linked to confrontations during the reshuffle process.
While no official reason was given for her replacement, it is believed the development may be linked to the unresolved status of her suspension.
A Federal High Court ruling by Justice Binta Nyako had ordered Senator Natasha’s reinstatement, but the Senate maintains it has yet to receive a certified true copy of the court’s judgement.
The Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisation Committee is tasked with monitoring diaspora networks and NGOs, providing guidance on home remittances, facilitating dialogue with governments and local authorities, and promoting the exchange of ideas between Nigerians at home and abroad. It also oversees annual budget estimates related to diaspora affairs.
