In a dramatic turn of events at the National Assembly on Wednesday, a budget defense session ended in a standoff after Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan staged a walkout. The Kogi Central lawmaker clashed with the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Steel Development, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, during an intense deliberation over the 2026 budget proposal for the Ministry of Steel.
The friction began following nearly four hours of scrutiny involving the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, whose constituency is home to the Ajaokuta Steel Company, had been pressing for more transparency regarding several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and the overall funding model for the plant. As she prepared to ask further “vital” questions, Chairman Ndubueze moved to wind down the session, hitting his gavel to signal the end of the day’s proceedings.
The move sparked an immediate protest from the Senator. “I still have something to say, and I think you should respect me enough,” Akpoti-Uduaghan stated, urging the chairman not to shut her out. Despite her appeal, Ndubueze insisted that the Minister’s time was up and directed him to exit, maintaining that the Senator had already had sufficient time to speak.
Visibly frustrated by the refusal to allow further engagement, the lawmaker accused the committee leadership of being dismissive. “You can’t do this to me. You spoke enough; allow me to speak,” she retorted before rising from her seat and leaving the room. She later emphasized that as the representative of the host community for the nation’s largest steel project, she had a dual responsibility to protect both her constituents and the national interest.
This latest incident highlights the growing tension within the upper chamber over the management of investigative hearings and budget reviews. Akpoti-Uduaghan, known as one of the most outspoken voices in the 10th Senate, has frequently challenged the status quo on matters of governance and industrial development. The walkout temporarily halted the day’s business, leaving unresolved questions about the future of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and the ministry’s 2026 expenditure plans.
