“””SHE IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE AND WAS NOT INVITED TO THE BUDGET DEFENCE…. SHE AS USUAL IGNORANTLY CLAIMED THAT BEING FROM NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA, SHE OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN A MEMBER.” — SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SENATOR ZAM DENIES SENATOR NATASHA. .. AS HER NUMEROUS FIGHT WITH SENATE COLLEAGUES CONTINUES IN THE RED CHAMBERS….

By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
16- FEB- 2026

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), Titus Zam, has dismissed claims by Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that she is a member of the committee, insisting that official records do not list her among its members. Zam, who represents Benue North-West in the Senate, made the clarification in Abuja while responding to allegations that the Kogi Central lawmaker’s name was deliberately omitted from the committee’s attendance register during a recent budget defence session.

According to him, the senator was neither appointed to the committee nor invited to participate in its proceedings. He explained that committee composition follows established Senate procedures designed to reflect federal character, noting that not all lawmakers from a particular geopolitical zone automatically become members of development commission panels. He further identified Isah Jibrin as the committee’s vice-chairman and Sunday Karimi as a serving member from Kogi State, adding that other north-central lawmakers, including Pam Mwadkon, are also not part of the NCDC committee.

Zam stated that the disagreement arose after the budget defence meeting had concluded, when Akpoti-Uduaghan reportedly visited his office to protest her exclusion.

He maintained that any grievances regarding committee appointments should be directed to the Senate Committee on Selection, which is responsible for assigning memberships.

The development has drawn attention within legislative circles, highlighting internal procedural disputes over committee representation in the upper chamber.