You must operate from South-east, Senate warns SEDC

The Senate on Monday through its committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), told management of the commission that it must operate from the South East.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), who gave the directive during oversight visit on projects being executed by the commission in Enugu state along with members, however, expressed satisfaction on the level of work at headquarters of the commission had attained in Enugu.

He described the headquarters building as a good edifice, noting that the level of work observed during the inspection was encouraging.

The committee members, according to Kalu, observed noticeable improvements compared to the situation during their earlier engagements with the Commission.

The committee also urged the management to sustain the pace of work ahead of their next  oversight  visit in December.

“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.

“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 explained that the lawmakers inspected two facilities, including the office currently occupied by the Commission and another building provided by the Enugu state government, being completed for its use.

“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,” Kalu stated.

The senator also revisited his earlier disagreement with the Commission over its decision to operate from Abuja instead of the South East.

He insisted that the Commission must maintain its operations 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.

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