Senate Ousts Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Appoints Aniekan Bassey as New Committee Chair

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has been removed as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The decision was announced during plenary on Thursday, July 10, 2025, by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In her place, Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District, was appointed to lead the committee.

This is the second leadership position Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has lost in 2025. Earlier in February, she was relieved of her role as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content and reassigned to head the Diaspora and NGOs Committee.

According to reports, the Senator representing Kogi Central will resume her duties in the National Assembly but will no longer hold any committee leadership roles. No official reason was provided by Senate President Akpabio for her latest removal.

Since Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, the committee had been largely inactive. With this new appointment, the committee is expected to resume its functions under the leadership of Senator Bassey.