SEDC defends N153m Abuja office spending amid Senate queries

The South East Development Commission (SEDC) has defended its expenditure of N153 million on an Abuja liaison office, describing it as a vital operational base for engaging with the National Assembly, federal ministries, and development finance institutions. The commission stated the funds cover the office's establishment and running costs since its inauguration in February 2025, along with other daily operational expenses.

This clarification comes after the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission questioned the commission's contributions to the region's development and demanded details on its budget utilization. Lawmakers, led by committee chairman Orji Kalu, challenged the SEDC's Managing Director, Mark Okoye, over the N153 million annual expenditure on the Abuja office, especially since the commission maintains its headquarters in Enugu.

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The board and management have prioritised relocating to the Commission’s designated headquarters in Enugu at the earliest possible opportunity.

Mr. Okoye was unable to provide satisfactory explanations during the hearing, prompting the committee to request comprehensive documentation on fund utilization. The SEDC has faced public scrutiny, with accusations of financial mismanagement and a lack of transparency. The commission acknowledged plans to relocate to its Enugu headquarters "at the earliest possible opportunity."

SEDC also highlighted that it has not yet received any capital allocation from its budget. Nevertheless, it has pursued project development initiatives, focusing expenditures on building an institutional foundation for program delivery and advancing projects that would typically be funded through a capital budget. The commission emphasized its efforts to advance high-impact regional development using available resources and goodwill.

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It is important to note that the Commission has not received any funds from its capital budget. Notwithstanding this, and in response to the development expectations of the South East, the Commission has drawn on every available resource and goodwill to advance the development of high-impact region