Drama in Senate as Natasha, Ndubueze Clash During Steel Ministry Budget Defence

Tension peaked at the Senate Committee on Steel Development as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) engaged in a heated exchange with Committee Chairman, Senator Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North), during the budget defence session with the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu.

The disagreement occurred when Akpoti-Uduaghan attempted to ask what she described as vital questions during the interactive session. Ndubueze, however, declined to recognise her and moved to adjourn proceedings, striking the gavel to signal the close of the session.

“I have something to say. Please, will you mind if I do so?” Akpoti-Uduaghan said while seeking the chairman’s permission to speak.

Ndubueze responded, “Distinguished, please let’s call it a day,” before striking the gavel.

As the Kogi lawmaker persisted in her bid to engage the minister, the chairman again struck the gavel, prompting her to protest.

“Mr Chairman, please don’t hit the gavel. I still have something to say, and I think you should respect me enough,” she said.

Ndubueze replied, “I have given you respect. Mr Minister, your time is up. Thank you.”

Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the chairman of disrespect, insisting that the committee had not had sufficient opportunity to thoroughly engage the minister.

“That is fine. You have disrespected me more than enough. You can’t do this to me. I have something very vital to ask the minister, and it doesn’t matter if I have spoken once or twice. This is an interactive session, and you agree that we have not met with the minister enough. Only God knows when next we’re going to meet with him as a committee,” she said.

The exchange briefly disrupted proceedings as other members of the committee looked on. The minister did not immediately respond to the disagreement.

The budget defence session was convened to allow the Minister of Steel Development to present and defend the ministry’s proposals before the committee.