The Nigerian Senate has removed the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from the country’s delegation to the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) currently taking place in New York.
The global meeting, which began on March 9 and will end on March 19 at the United Nations headquarters, is focused on advancing gender equality and strengthening access to justice for women and girls across member states.
Countries are expected to send delegations to participate in discussions and negotiations that will shape outcomes for women’s rights worldwide.
However, Nigeria’s delegation has drawn attention after Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of the few female senators in the National Assembly, was excluded from the final list and replaced by a male lawmaker.
The issue first surfaced during a Senate Committee on Appropriations meeting on February 25 when the Kogi senator complained that she had been removed from the delegation despite complying with all documentation requirements.
Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had earlier invited her to join Nigeria’s team attending the international gathering.
According to her, the ministry requested the photo page of her international passport, which she said she submitted within hours.
She later received a response informing her that she would no longer be part of the trip, with officials claiming her passport details were submitted late.
During the committee meeting, the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe, initially dismissed claims that Akpoti-Uduaghan had been excluded.
Kingibe explained that she had recommended the Kogi lawmaker after two other female senators — Idiat Adebule representing Lagos West and Ipalibo Banigo of Rivers West — reportedly declined the opportunity to attend the session.
She assured Akpoti-Uduaghan that her name had been forwarded and even stated during the meeting that if the Kogi senator was not allowed to attend, she would also stay back.
Despite the assurances, the situation later changed.
Source-Newsexpressngr.com
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