Senate Cautions SEDC Over ₦140B Budget, Warns Against Fund Misuse
The Nigerian Senate issued a stern warning to the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) during a budget defense session on Tuesday, cautioning the agency against turning its ₦140 billion 2026 budget into an avenue for siphoning public funds. Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, Orji Kalu, emphasized the commission must deliver tangible development to communities across the region and avoid repeating controversies that have plagued similar agencies. The commission's Managing Director, Mark Okoye, unveiled an ambitious plan to grow the South-East into a $200 billion economy within 10 years, seeking legislative backing for the budget proposal. Kalu stressed the committee would exercise strict oversight on project implementation to ensure benefits for the people, stating: 'This commission is to work for our people, to rebuild our area. This committee will be very ruthless in its oversight.' The Senate's warning underscores the region's decades of neglect and the need for accountability in development spending.