Southeast stakeholders and groups have continued to react to the outcome of the recent meeting between the management of Southeast Development Commission, SEDC, led by Mr Mark Okoye, and the Senate Committee on SEDC, led by Senator Orji Uzor-Kalu.
At a recent oversight engagement with the leadership of the Commission earlier this week, the Senate’s SEDC Committee Chairman, Senator Kalu, accused the Managing Director of the SEDC, Mr Okoye, of mismanaging funds allocated to the Commission to the tune of over N16 billion.
The SEDC MD had denied the allegations, stating that it would forward its financial details to the Senate Committee for clarity at a later date.
Reacting to the imbroglio, the South East Development Agenda (SEDA), a regional civil Society organization and public accountability watchdog, commended the Senate Committee for its proactive and vigilant oversight of the Commission at this critical stage of its existence.
It said the Committee’s intervention demonstrates a commitment to ensuring that the SEDC remains faithful to its mandate and does not descend into the pattern of inefficiency, opacity, and waste that has undermined the credibility and effectiveness of some interventionist agencies in the country.
Noting that the SEDC was established for regional reconstruction, economic revitalization, infrastructure development, and the restoration of public confidence in government-led development initiatives, the SEDA said the Commission therefore bears a unique responsibility to operate at the highest standards of transparency, accountability, prudence, and institutional integrity.
“The concerns raised by members of the Senate Committee regarding the Commission’s financial submissions are deeply troubling and deserve immediate attention. Reports indicating questionable expenditure classifications, insufficient financial disclosures, and the inability of the Commission to provide clear and satisfactory explanations regarding certain expenditures have raised legitimate public concerns about the management of resources entrusted to the agency
“The financial report presented before the Senate Committee has been widely described as inadequate, unsatisfactory, and lacking the level of transparency expected of an institution entrusted with billions of naira in public funds. Such deficiencies in financial reporting are unacceptable and inconsistent with the standards of accountability expected from a development agency established to serve the collective interests of the people of the South East.
“Particularly concerning are reports surrounding expenditures that appear disproportionate, poorly explained, or inadequately documented. While it remains the responsibility of the Commission to provide comprehensive clarification, the issues raised by the Senate Committee underscore the urgent need for stronger financial controls, stricter reporting standards, and enhanced public disclosure mechanisms.
“We believe that any perception of reckless or imprudent use of the Commission’s resources, whether arising from actual misconduct or poor financial reporting, has the potential to undermine public confidence in the institution and weaken support for its developmental mandate, the group said in a statement signed by its convener, Comrade Nelson Nwafor.
The group stressed the need for the Commission to act swiftly to dispel all doubts through full disclosure and transparent engagement with both the National Assembly and the public.
It called on the leadership of the SEDC, to immediately provide detailed records of expenditures, procurement processes, project approvals, contract awards, payment schedules, project implementation status, and all supporting financial documentation required to establish public confidence in its operations.
It said, “We equally encourage the Senate Committee to sustain its proactive oversight role and continue engaging the Commission in a manner that strengthens institutional accountability, protects public resources, and ensures that every appropriated fund translates into tangible developmental benefits for the people of the South East.
“The South East cannot afford another intervention agency whose impact is diminished by weak governance structures, poor financial management, inadequate oversight, or public distrust.
“SEDA therefore calls on all stakeholders to support efforts aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and responsible governance within the Commission, while allowing due process and institutional oversight mechanisms to run their course.”
Meanwhile, in his reaction to the issue, the Vice President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Pharm Uchenna Apakama defended the leadership of the SEDC, expressing confidence that with the right support, the Commission can achieve a lot for the region.
He observed that although the federal government has made budgets for the running of the Commission running into billions of Naira, not much has been released for the actual operation of the activities of the Commission.
“It is true that the South East Development Commission (SEDC) has a budget running into billions of naira. Some may argue that this shows the federal government has done enough for the South-East. My response is simple- it is not about the budget. It is about what has actually been delivered.
“Other regions have had similar development commissions before us. The Niger Delta had one. Others have theirs as well. The question remains- what tangible benefits have been delivered? Do they even have a fully operational office?
“The commission is still in its infancy. It is barely a year plus since it was inaugurated. The Southeast states themselves are the ones thinking about ways to support it with take-off grants and other forms of assistance.
“On paper, Mark Okoye and his team are doing very well, but they need proper support, mobilisation, and assistance to achieve their mandate.
“We must also understand the limits of what the commission can do. It will not build railways or major highways. It does not control federal infrastructure budgets. It cannot award telecommunications licenses. It cannot independently implement major blue economy projects. It will not build schools across the region.
“Its role is to coordinate development, mobilise funds, align projects, and ensure that all stakeholders are working in the same direction.
“Most of the heavy lifting still rests with the federal government. The commission can support policy initiatives, training programmes, and perhaps undertake some limited infrastructure projects, but the major responsibility remains with the federal government,” he maintained.
