The Senate has appointed Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, replacing Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who remains under suspension.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Thursday, stating that Bassey, who represents Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, would now lead the committee previously chaired by Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February following her removal as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor leadership reshuffle.
While no official reason was given for Thursday’s change, it is believed to be linked to her unresolved suspension. In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ruled in her favour, declaring her suspension “excessive and unconstitutional,” and ordered her reinstatement with a directive to issue a formal apology to the Senate.
Despite the ruling, the Senate has maintained it has not received a Certified True Copy of the judgment. Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume legislative duties.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, she explained her position: “I am awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.”
A legal opinion dated July 5, attributed to Senate counsel Paul Daudu (SAN), contended that the court ruling did not include a binding directive enforcing her reinstatement.
Speaking further, Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, criticised the ongoing delay in her return. “By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central—it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
