The Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC) has demanded a detailed explanation for more than N4 billion spent from the commission’s 2025 budget, raising concerns over accountability and operational expenses.
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) is facing tough questions from lawmakers after the Senate Committee overseeing the agency challenged its leadership over more than N4 billion reportedly spent from its 2025 budget allocation.
According to Daily Post, the commission received N16.6 billion for its operations in 2025. However, when Managing Director Mark Okoye appeared before the committee, senators demanded a clear breakdown of how the funds had been utilised.
Leading the questioning, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu insisted that the committee would not accept vague explanations.
“We will not accept any excuses, regardless of your background. My responsibility is to fulfill my duties, and we, as parliamentarians, must fulfill ours,” he said.
When Okoye stated that the commission still had roughly N11.5 billion to N12 billion in its account, Kalu argued that the figures did not align with records available to the committee and information obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“I have communicated with the Central Bank, and I can retrieve documents from my office right now. We have also dispatched the Auditor General to review your activities, as I am not satisfied,” the senator said.
The SEDC was established in 2024 to drive infrastructure, economic growth and development across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. With high expectations surrounding the commission, lawmakers say transparency and accountability are critical.
For now, all eyes are on next week’s hearing, where the commission is expected to present a full account of how the disputed funds were spent.
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