Uche Amunike
Lifeandtimes News Write
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Senator Titus Zam has reacted to the claims made by Senator representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti, that her name was omitted from the attendance register of the committee, even though she’s a member of the Budget Defence Committee.
Senator Zam, who represents Benue North-West in the Nigerian Senate clarified through a statement he released in Abuja, Tuesday, that Senator Natasha Akpoti is not a member of the committee.
Recall that Senator Natasha Akpoti alleged on Monday that her name was omitted from the attendance register of the committee during the budget defense meeting held between the committee and the management of the commission.
When she noticed the omission, she sought to consult the committee clerk to determine the reason why she was excluded. She was, however, informed that the clerk was in the office of the Chairman of the committee, Senator Zam. She therefore proceeded to the Chairman’s office for clarification.
There were exchanges as Senator Natasha Akpoti alleged that the Chairman indicated his actions were based on instructions from higher authorities. No further details were however provided.
Senator Natasha has however released a statement, Monday, through her media aide, Mike Idoko, explaining that tensions escalated when aides attached to the committee Chairman confronted members of her media team.
Her words: ‘Approximately six aides, including the chairman’s secretary, seized my cinematographer’s phone and engaged in the verbal hostility. This is unacceptable.’
In response, Senator Zam insisted that Senator Natasha Akpoti did not belong to his committee and was never invited to the meeting.
Hear him: ‘She’s not a member of the committee and was not invited to the budget defence meeting.’
‘Two senators from Kogi are members. Indeed, Sen. Isah Jibrin is my vice-chairman of NCDC, while Sen. Sunday Karimi is a member.’
‘After the budget defence meeting, Sen. Natasha came several hours later to complain about not being invited. I told her she’s not a member, so she couldn’t have been invited.’
‘Many other North-Central senators are also not members because senators from other zones in Nigeria are mixed into all the development commission committees for national character purposes.’
He cited examples of senators who are not members of the committee, like Senator Pam Mwadkon and Senator Diket Plang.
His words: ‘For example, Sen. Pam Mwadkon from Plateau State is also not a member of NCDC, because Senators Diket Plang and Simon Lalong are members.’
‘She, as usual, ignorantly claimed that being from North-Central Nigeria, she ought to have been a member.’
‘A brief argument ensued, and I told her to approach the Senate Committee on Selection and lodge her complaint. After a back-and-forth movement, she left my office.’
Meanwhile the Senate approved the N140bn 2026 budget estimate of the NCDC after the closed-door meeting.
According to Senator Zam, all the items on the estimates were found to be relevant and useful for the North-Central region and his committee requested that their expenditures are prioritized in line with their mandate, so that the people of North-Central region will benefit from their services and have value for resources that are allocated to them. He maintained that agriculture, health, public infrastructure, education and security, as well as social services should also take priority in the implementation of the budget.
