Verbal War Erupts Over South-East Development Commission (SEDC)
Executive Summary
A heated online dispute has erupted over the performance of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) and its Managing Director/CEO, Mark Okoye. Triggered by a tense Senate committee hearing, the backlash centres on the Commission’s use of its ₦16.6 billion 2025 budget allocation. Citizens and civil society groups, including HURIWA, have expressed frustration at the lack of visible infrastructure projects, while the SEDC defends its spending as necessary groundwork for long-term regional transformation.
Background
Public discourse has been dominated by criticism of how a portion of the SEDC’s funds was utilised. According to the Commission, the money was spent on seminars and preparatory work, none of which included establishing offices in the five constituent states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
