SEDC Must Operate From South East, Not Abuja, Senate Insists

The Senate has insisted that the South East Development Commission (SEDC) must operate from the South East rather than Abuja, stressing the need for the Commission to remain within the region it was established to serve.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on SEDC, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), stated this on Monday when he led members of the committee on an oversight visit to inspect projects being executed by the commission in Enugu State.

Kalu, however, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the Commission’s headquarters in Enugu, describing the building as an impressive edifice and commending the improvements recorded since the committee’s previous engagements with the management.

He urged the management to sustain the pace of work, disclosing that the committee would return in December to assess further progress.

“So far, we are making very good progress, unlike when we started. I am sure that both my colleagues and I are seeing very serious progress. I hope that the commission, especially the management team, sustains this progress.

“We will be here in December to see the progress so far. We are happy now that something is going on. We also want them to go to the grassroots to show the South Eastern people that they are on the ground,” he said.

Kalu explained that the committee inspected two facilities during the visit: the office currently occupied by the commission and another building provided by the Enugu State Government, which is being completed for its use.

He said the inspection showed that progress had been made since the committee raised concerns about the commission’s operational base being in Abuja rather than the South East.

“Where we were before and now, we are making progress. We were quarrelling about our office being in Abuja. Today, we have seen two offices, one where they are staying and the one they are completing, which the government of Enugu State gave them.

“So, we are very impressed. Once they are back home to do what they are sent to do, nobody has problems with them,” Kalu stated.

The former Abia State governor reiterated his position that the commission must operate from the region where it was established, insisting that its presence in the South East was essential to fulfilling its mandate.

“The only problem that I said before, and I repeat, is that they cannot operate from Abuja. They must operate from where they are set up. This is where they are located,” he said.

He added that the provision of office facilities in Enugu had resolved the committee’s earlier disagreement with the Commission over its location.

“Our quarrel before was about being in Abuja and not being in Enugu. So, that quarrel is over now,” he added.

Kalu also urged the Commission to extend its activities to communities across the South East, emphasising that its impact should be felt at the grassroots rather than being limited to administrative operations.