The Senate of Nigeria has cautioned the South-East Development Commission to prioritise meaningful development projects and avoid turning the agency into a channel for misappropriation of public funds.
The warning was issued during a budget defence session where the commission’s management team appeared before the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission to present its proposed ₦140 billion 2026 budget.
Chairman of the committee, Orji Uzor Kalu, urged the commission to remain focused on addressing the longstanding developmental needs of communities across the South-East, stressing that the agency must not repeat the shortcomings associated with similar intervention bodies in the past.
He noted that the commission was established following the recognition of decades of neglect and hardship experienced in the region by President Bola Tinubu, adding that the Senate would maintain strict oversight of the commission’s activities, particularly in project implementation, to ensure tangible benefits for the people.