Senate Allocates N25 Billion for SEDC's 2026 Budget

On Thursday, Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, clarified that the Senate is responsible for injecting N25 billion into the South East Development Commission's (SEDC) proposed 2026 budget of N140 billion, not the governors of the South Eastern states. This clarification came during the presentation of the SEDC's 2026 budget report to the Senate Committee.

The proposed budget, submitted on Wednesday, allocates N5 billion each to the five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. Kalu emphasized the need for this financial intervention due to the insufficient funding received by the SEDC in the 2025 fiscal year, which led to the suspension of several strategic projects.

The additional N25 billion is intended to reactivate stalled projects and restore development momentum in the region, aligning with the federal government's renewed hope agenda in health and education sectors.