SECSONet Urges Senate, SEDC To Avoid Tension, Focus On Southeast Development
As expectations grow over the role of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) in addressing decades of infrastructure and economic challenges in the region, civil society groups are calling for a more constructive relationship between the Commission and its overseers.
The Southeast Civil Society Network (SECSONet) has urged the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission and the leadership of the Commission to embrace dialogue, restraint and professionalism in their ongoing oversight engagement.
In a statement signed by Prince Chris Azor, SECSONet stressed that while the National Assembly’s oversight function remains a vital pillar of democracy, such engagements should not create an atmosphere of intimidation, political pressure or institutional instability.
The group warned that public concerns over allegations that oversight processes are sometimes used for blackmail or coercion could undermine confidence in democratic institutions if not properly managed.
According to SECSONet, the SEDC is a critical intervention agency established to tackle the region’s developmental deficits and should be allowed to operate in a stable environment, especially at a time when reports suggest it is yet to receive substantial capital funding required to execute key projects.
The network called for fair and professional oversight mechanisms that strengthen accountability without causing operational paralysis, while also demanding urgent attention to the Commission’s funding challenges.
SECSONet further advocated greater transparency from the SEDC through regular public communication and proposed the establishment of independent civil society monitoring mechanisms to support accountability, project tracking and citizen participation.
The group maintained that the success of the Commission transcends politics, describing it as crucial to the Southeast’s development, reconstruction and economic recovery.
It therefore urged all stakeholders to act with wisdom, sincerity and restraint in the broader interest of the Southeast and Nigeria as a whole.
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp:https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawgaEL5vKA9Y5XTFg0n
