SEDC restates commitment to regional development, promised to tender documents before Senate

By Ifeizu Joe 

South East Development Commission (SEDC) has reiterated its commitment to drive the infrastructure and social development of the region in line with the principle upon which it was established.

SEDC gave the assurance in a Statement released from the office of Mr Mark Okoye, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission on Wednesday.

The Commission also said it will submit comprehensive documentation of procurement records, contract details, payment schedules, and supporting financial records, to the Senate Committee on or before June 23.

Recall that Okoye led the management team of SEDC to appear before the Senate Committee on Development Commission under the Chairmanship of Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu on Tuesday.

The Statement said the SEDC remained committed to transparency, accountability, and cooperation with all constitutional oversight institutions.

The Commission said it prioritised relocating to the Commission’s designated headquarters in Enugu and was able to secure the transfer of an existing building from the Enugu State Government
instead of procuring a new facility which would cost more.

It said the contract awarded for the rehabilitation of the Commission’s headquarters to make it fit for institutional use.

“The contract was awarded in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2007, following approval by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the concurrence of the supervising ministry.

“These commitments represent budgeted obligations that have been lawfully committed but not yet disbursed, consistent with established public sector financial management practice.

“This money has not left the Commission’s accounts,’ it said.

Okoye said the Commission had not received any funds from its capital budget and to meet the expectations of the people, it had drawn on every available resource and goodwill to advance project development work on high-impact regional capital projects.

He said the necessary groundwork was in place to enable swift execution once capital releases are made.

He said expenditure had been directed towards building the institutional foundation and advancing project development work that ordinarily would have fallen within the capital budget.

Okoye said the Commission also engaged consultants for feasibility studies and due diligence on priority regional projects including gas infrastructure partnership which would have significant energy and industrial implications for the region.

“It is worth recalling that the Commission received its first disbursement of funds after more than 10 months of being in existence.

“Expenditure so far has covered the payment of staff salaries and arrears from February 2025, capacity training for seconded staff, establishment of the Commission’s operational bases in Abuja and Enugu as well as the procurement of essential ICT infrastructure.

“Following our participation in the Intra-African Trade Fair in Algeria, the Commission is now in active development of a partnership with Afreximbank to co-develop a Project Preparation Fund with moribund industries across the region.

“The Commission remains focused on that mandate and is confident that a full review of the facts and supporting documentation will provide a complete picture of its activities and stewardship of public resources.