By Obike Ukoh
The Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission (SEDC),is yet to give its verdict on the ongoing investigative hearing of the activities of the Commission. But the issues raised so far have continued to attract public attention and discourse.
But stakeholders, contemporary observers and analysts, have stressed the need to ascertain the true position about two issues: The N153million, the Commission claimed, was allegedly used to rent a one-room liaison office space in Abuja and N2.5 billion categorised as “implied expenditure”.
After the last meeting of the SEDC management and the Senate Committee, the SEDC management was given a June 23 date to come with details of its expenditures.
Members of the committee are: Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, (Abia North) Chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), and Senator Austin Akobundu (Abia Central).
During the last hearing, the Committee, drilled SEDC’s Managing Director Mark Okoye, over suspected mismanagement of N16.6 billion received by the commission as part of its 2025 budget allocations.
The Committee expressed surprise that N153 million was allegedly spent to rent a one-room liaison office in Abuja, and N2.5 billion categorised as “implied expenditure.’’
The Committee told the managing director and his team that they were not satisfied with the financial report it submitted during the investigative hearing and directed that detailed account of the N16.6 billion allocation received should be provided.
According to the committee, information from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed that N13 billion, remained from the N16.6 billion the SEDC collected in December last year.
That implies that N3.6 billion had been spent and must be accounted for. Though nobody has been indicted, and the Committee has not completed the investigation, there appear, what could be described as shadow chasing.
Some commentators, rather than concentrate on the main issue, have resorted to raise issues, very irrelevant to the issue at stake.
It could be rightly argued that they want to divert attention. One Ekene Arinze, who did not properly identify himself, questioned the membership of the Senate Committee.
The issues he raised are well known and documented, while his action could be interpreted as challenging the authority of the Senate.
However, a stakeholder, Chief Abia Onyike, a former Commissioner for Information in Ebonyi State, warned against diversionary tactics , and urged the Senate Committee to be focused on its onerous assignment.
“The Senate Committee on SEDC, should not be blamed for the credibility challenges the Commission is currently facing.
“The management of SEDC must be accountable to the people of the South-East and the Federal Government.
“The insinuation by some commentators regarding the leadership of the Senate Committee is rather diversionary, subjective and must be ignored.
“We should learn to take up issues as they arise with some measure of objectivity.
“The management of SEDC should clear itself of any alleged mismanagement, so as to justify its set up as an institution, committed to the development of the South-East region,’’ Onyike who was also former Deputy National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), emphasized.
On its part, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), insisted that the Senate Committee, must get to the root of the matter.
The group urged the committee to ignore any distractive action, and demand full accountability of funds allocated to SEDC .
In a statement signed by COSEYL’s President General, Goodluck Ibem, the group, described the recent Senate oversight session as “courageous, principled, and uncompromising”.
The group specifically backed concerns over the reported payment of N153 million rent for office accommodation, adding that it “demands immediate and comprehensive clarification.
“Every kobo appropriated for the development of the South-East must be accounted for and must directly impact the lives of our people, through visible infrastructure, economic empowerment, and sustainable development projects.”
The group faulted explanation so far provided by SEDC leadership, as they “fall short of the standards of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility, expected from an agency created to drive regional development.’’
Even before some commentators questioned the composition of the Senate Committee, a group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), described the committee’s action as courageous, diligent and constitution.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group stressed that disturbing questions were raised, that demand immediate intervention by anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies.
As with other stakeholders, the rights group particularly expressed outrage over allegations presented before the Senate Committee that the Commission allegedly expended N153 million on the rent of a one-room liaison office in Abuja, and listed another N2.5 billion under what was reportedly categorized as “implied expenditure.”
According to HURIWA, no public official entrusted with development funds should be allowed to treat public resources as personal assets.
The association stated that the Senate Committee has already performed its constitutional responsibility by exposing apparent discrepancies and demanding accountability.
“Public office holders must understand that accountability is not negotiable and that impunity can no longer be tolerated in institutions created to uplift disadvantaged regions.”
The group expressed disappointment that within a relatively short period of its establishment, the commission is already facing allegations capable of undermining public confidence in its mandate.
Even before the return date, with a hindsight, stakeholders opined that SEDC must be protected and insulated from political extortion.
There are seven regional development commissions, one each for the six geopolitical zones, and the NDDC.
The mandate of the Commission under the SEDC Act of 2024, is to “Receive and manage funds from allocations of the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, and other infrastructure damages suffered by the region as a result of the civil war.
With the revelations so far, from the newest development commission, the question is now being asked, whether Nigeria’s intervention agencies are sufficiently insulated from the governance failures that have undermined similar institutions in the past.
Analysts also say, that the Senate’s intervention represents not just routine oversight, but a test of whether a commission created to drive regional development can earn public trust by demonstrating that every naira allocated for the South-East reaches the purpose for which it was intended.
SEDC was established after long agitation, the vestiges of the 30-month war, still dot many parts of the South-East. It is a belated Marshall Plan. Funds allocated to the Commission, should be properly used for public good.
Obike Ukoh, former Deputy Editor-In-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
