The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, has expressed satisfaction with progress on the commission’s headquarters in Enugu State, insisting that it must operate from the region it was established to serve.
Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, spoke on Monday during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee to inspect the ongoing project and assess the commission’s operations.
The former Abia State governor said the committee observed significant improvements compared with its previous engagements, urging the management to sustain the progress.
“Well, 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”, he said.
He added that the lawmakers would return in December for another assessment, urging the commission to take its activities to communities across the region.
“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”, Kalu said.
The senator said the committee inspected two facilities: the commission’s current office and another building provided by the Enugu State Government, which is being completed for its use.
He described the development as encouraging, noting that it had addressed earlier concerns over the commission’s decision to operate from Abuja rather than the South-East.
“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”, he stated.
Kalu added, “So, we are very impressed. Once they are back home to do what they are sent to do, nobody has problems with them”.
Reiterating his position on the commission’s location, he insisted that its operations must remain within the region it was established to serve.
“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 noted that the disagreement over the commission’s Abuja base had been resolved.
“Our quarrel before was about being in Abuja and not being in Enugu. So that quarrel is over now”, he added.
The senator urged the commission to extend its activities to communities across the South-East, stressing that residents must feel its impact at the grassroots.
Acknowledging that the commission was less than a year old, Kalu expressed optimism about its progress and urged the management to remain committed to its mandate.
“It’s a new Commission, less than one year. We are making progress. We are impressed with what we have seen so far. So far, so good”, he said.
The Senate Committee is expected to return to Enugu in December to assess further progress on the headquarters and review the commission’s operation.
