A dramatic National Assembly clash unfolded on Wednesday as Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan confronted Patrick Ndubueze during the Ministry of Steel Development’s budget defence session.
Tempers flared after nearly four hours of deliberations when Ndubueze, who chairs the Senate committee overseeing the ministry, moved to adjourn proceedings. Akpoti-Uduaghan objected, insisting she still had critical issues to raise.
The heated exchange ended with the Kogi Central lawmaker walking out of the hearing room.
National Assembly Clash Over Adjournment
The confrontation began when Ndubueze struck the gavel to conclude the session, stating the senator had spoken extensively.
Akpoti-Uduaghan protested, urging the chairman not to interrupt her and to allow further engagement with the minister.
When her appeal was overruled, she accused the committee leadership of disrespect and questioned the decision to curtail what she described as an interactive session.
“This is an interactive session… we have not met with the minister enough,” she said before exiting the chamber.
Ajaokuta Steel Company at the Centre of Dispute
Beyond procedure, the National Assembly clash reflected deeper concerns over the future of Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Earlier in the hearing, Akpoti-Uduaghan pressed the ministry for clarity on memoranda of understanding (MoUs) signed with private partners.
She said she had requested a copy of the MoU to verify due diligence but was not furnished with the document, forcing her to rely on third-party information.
The senator questioned the financing and technical structure of the agreements, asking the ministry to explain how responsibilities were allocated among partners.
She also criticised what she described as limited engagement with her as representative of the host community, noting that meetings with the minister had been infrequent.
Minister Outlines Budget Performance
In his presentation, Minister of Steel Development Shuaibu Audu detailed the ministry’s 2024 financial performance.
He said the ministry and its agencies received N24.143 billion in the 2024 appropriation, broken down as:
- N9.5 billion for personnel
- N383 million for overhead
- N11.06 billion for capital expenditure
As of December 31, 2025, total releases stood at 56.5 percent. Personnel and overhead allocations were fully released, while capital releases reached 48.4 percent.
Capital disbursements for the 2025 budget, he added, had yet to begin.
Responding to concerns over the MoU, the minister maintained that details had been submitted to the legislature and advised the senator to follow established parliamentary procedures for further engagement.
Broader Implications of the National Assembly Clash
The National Assembly clash underscores growing tensions over oversight, industrial policy, legislative authority, host community rights, infrastructure revival, transparency demands, budget scrutiny, executive accountability, committee dynamics, governance standards, public sector reforms, stakeholder engagement, fiscal oversight, parliamentary decorum, project financing, economic diversification, policy coordination, institutional trust.
At its core, the dispute highlights persistent questions about the revival of Ajaokuta and the pace of Nigeria’s steel sector reforms.
As debates intensify over funding, partnership models, and oversight mechanisms, the National Assembly clash signals that scrutiny of the Steel Ministry’s agenda will remain firmly in focus.
