Senate Ousts Natasha, Appoints Aniekan Bassey Committee Chair
In a surprising turn of events at the National Assembly, the Senate has announced the replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations. The decision, which took many observers off guard, was confirmed during Wednesday’s plenary session.
Senator Aniekan Bassey, who represents Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District, was named as her successor. Bassey, a first-term lawmaker under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), previously served as Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and has been lauded for his legislative engagements since entering the Red Chamber.
While the Senate did not provide an official reason for the leadership change, insiders at the National Assembly suggest it may be part of a broader reorganisation aimed at re-energising key committees for better performance in line with the legislative agenda of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Senator Natasha, who represents Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was appointed Chair of the Diaspora Committee in 2023. During her tenure, she was vocal on issues concerning Nigerians in the diaspora, human trafficking, and the regulation of international NGOs operating within the country.
Bassey is expected to continue oversight of key diaspora-related policies and engagement with millions of Nigerians living abroad, a demographic whose remittances play a significant role in the nation’s economy.
The reshuffling of committee leadership is seen as part of the Senate’s effort to streamline its oversight responsibilities and enhance accountability across sensitive sectors. Political analysts are watching closely to see whether further changes will follow in other Senate committees.