The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday voiced strong displeasure over what she described as her exclusion from certain activities in the Senate.
Speaking during the budget defence session of the Committee on Women Affairs, she accused the committee’s chairman, Ireti Kingibe, of sidelining her from key committee engagements.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also questioned the level of unity and coordination among female senators, particularly regarding participation in a major global women’s programme. She expressed disappointment over what she described as her exclusion from arrangements surrounding the upcoming **Commission on the Status of Women> (CSW) event scheduled to take place in New York.
The senator pointed out that female representation in the Senate remains limited and stressed that inclusiveness should be prioritised, especially for international engagements focused on women’s development.
According to her, she was notified about the CSW invitation at about 1:00 pm the previous day and was asked to submit her passport for processing. She said she complied within three hours but was later informed by the Ministry of Women Affairs that she would no longer be attending because her response was considered late.
“I was only informed about the event yesterday at 1:00 pm, and I immediately responded with my passport. Despite my prompt response, I was subsequently told that I responded too late and would not be attending,” she stated.
Akpoti-Uduaghan maintained that she should not be treated differently from her colleagues, particularly concerning an event dedicated to advancing the welfare and empowerment of women.