Senate Demands Accountability for N3.6bn SEDC Spending

The Nigerian Senate has intensified its oversight of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) by demanding a full account of N3.6 billion spent from its budget. During an investigative hearing, Senate Committee Chairman Orji Uzor Kalu disclosed that the commission received N16.6 billion in budgetary releases, but N13 billion remains in its account, indicating that N3.6 billion has already been spent.

Lawmakers expressed concerns over several questionable expenditures, including a N153 million payment for rental on a liaison office in Abuja and N2.5 billion in other expenditures. Kalu described the financial report submitted by the commission as unsatisfactory and insisted that spending must be properly justified.

Despite the defense from SEDC Managing Director Mark Okoy, who claimed expenditures were prudent and based on actual cash releases, lawmakers remained unconvinced. The committee has given SEDC until June 23 to submit comprehensive records of contract awards and payments made, as part of the Senate's ongoing oversight to ensure transparency in the use of public funds.