Kalu Tasks SEDC on Grassroots Impact, Says Commission Must Operate From South East

Jane Salihu

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the Commission to extend its activities to communities across the South East, stressing that its impact must be felt at the grassroots and not limited to administrative operations.

Kalu gave the charge on Monday during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee to Enugu State, where lawmakers inspected the Commission’s existing office and its proposed headquarters provided by the state government.

The senator, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, expressed satisfaction with the progress made on the headquarters project, describing the development as an improvement from what the committee observed during its previous engagements with the Commission.

He urged the management to sustain the pace of work and translate the progress into tangible benefits for people across the region.

“So far, we are making very good progress, unlike when we started. I’m sure you, both me and my colleagues, are seeing very serious progress. I hope that the Commission, especially the management team, sustains this progress.

“We will be here in December to see the progress so far. We are happy now that something is going on. We also want them to go to the grassroots to show the South Eastern people that they are on the ground,” he said.

Kalu said the committee inspected two facilities, including the office currently occupied by the Commission and another building being completed for its use by the Enugu State Government.

He described the development as encouraging, noting that the Commission had made progress in addressing concerns previously raised by the lawmakers over its operational base.

“Where we were before and now, we are making progress. We were quarrelling about our office being in Abuja. Today, we have seen two offices, one where they are staying and the one they are completing, which the government of Enugu State gave them.

“So, we are very impressed. Once they are back home to do what they are sent to do, nobody has problems with them,” the senator stated.

However, Kalu maintained that the Commission must be physically based in the South East, insisting that operating from Abuja would undermine the purpose of establishing an institution dedicated to the region’s development.

“The only problem that I said before, and I repeat, is that they cannot operate from Abuja. They must operate from where they are set up. This is where they are located,” he said.

He added that the disagreement over the Commission’s operational location had been resolved following the progress made in establishing its presence in Enugu.

“Our quarrel before was about being in Abuja and not being in Enugu. So that quarrel is over now,” he added.

The former Abia State governor acknowledged that the SEDC was still a relatively new institution, having operated for less than a year, but said the progress recorded so far was encouraging.

He stressed that beyond establishing offices, the Commission must demonstrate its relevance by reaching communities and addressing the development needs of people across the South East.

The Senate Committee is expected to return to Enugu in December for another assessment of the headquarters project and the Commission’s operatioens.