The House of Representatives Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) has expressed optimism about the development prospects of the South-East, following an assessment of the Commission’s preparations to commence full operations at its headquarters in Enugu.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, expressed the optimism on Wednesday during an oversight visit to the Commission’s headquarters, where he commended the management for laying the foundation for an effective operational structure to drive development across the region.

Nkwonta said the facilities and preparations at the headquarters were impressive, expressing confidence that the Commission would make significant contributions towards addressing the developmental challenges confronting the South-East.

“Our job basically here is to provide oversight on the activities of the South-East Development Commission. That is why we are here. Today, we had a meeting before coming here, and I can tell you that what we have seen here is very, very impressive,” he said.

The lawmaker particularly commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, for providing a building for the Commission’s operations at no cost, describing the gesture as a significant contribution to the development of the region.

According to him, the provision of a rent-free headquarters would reduce the Commission’s operational costs and enable it to channel more resources towards achieving its mandate.

“I have asked the MD, and he has confirmed that the building has been provided rent-free. All they need to do is make it ready for use,” Nkwonta said.

He disclosed that the Commission’s management had assured the Committee that renovation and preparatory work at the facility would be completed within two weeks.

The chairman added that staff were expected to resume normal operations at the headquarters by the end of November or, at the latest, the second week of December.

Nkwonta described the establishment of the SEDC as a significant milestone in the long-standing quest to address the developmental challenges of the South-East, noting that the Commission provides a dedicated institutional framework for coordinating and accelerating development interventions across the region.

He said the agency presented an opportunity to translate the expectations of the people into tangible development outcomes through effective planning, implementation and sustained collaboration among relevant stakeholders.

The lawmaker expressed confidence in the management’s ability to deliver on the Commission’s mandate, saying the progress recorded so far had reinforced his optimism about the future of the region.

“For the very first time since the end of the war, a commission has been established specifically to drive the development of the South-East. There are other development agencies, but this Commission is particularly important to those of us from the region.

“Having seen what they have done so far and the way they have started, I believe that better days are ahead,” he said.

Responding, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SEDC, Chief Mark Okoye, thanked Nkwonta and members of the Committee for the visit, describing legislative oversight and sustained engagement as essential to the Commission’s effectiveness and accountability.

Okoye explained that the headquarters would accommodate the Commission’s departments and staff, providing a centralised and conducive environment for planning, coordination and implementation of development programmes.

He said the nature and scale of the challenges confronting the South-East required a dedicated team working in an environment that would encourage strategic thinking, collaboration and the execution of development initiatives.

“What we have here is the head office of the SEDC, and we have all the departments and staff that will work from here. The idea is to make it conducive for what we call deep work, because we will be working from here for long hours, on weekdays and weekends.

“The development challenges in the South-East are enormous, and they require people and an environment where we can truly come together, plan for the region, prepare for the region and execute,” he said.

The SEDC chief executive disclosed that the Commission had undertaken several activities over the preceding 18 months in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, despite operating from temporary and relatively small office facilities in Enugu.

He said the consolidation of the Commission’s departments and personnel under one roof would strengthen its institutional capacity and accelerate the implementation of its strategic roadmap for the region.

“We have done quite a number of things over the last 18 months in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, but we have been doing so through temporary structures and smaller offices in Enugu.

“Having everybody under one roof will give us the much-needed boost to move forward with fortitude and achieve the strategic roadmap and development agenda of the region, backed by our critical stakeholders,” Okoye stated.

He stressed that the Commission’s success would depend not only on its internal structures but also on sustained cooperation with the National Assembly and other stakeholders whose contributions would help ensure that its programmes addressed the needs and priorities of the people.

Okoye described the Committee’s engagement as particularly important in monitoring the Commission’s progress, assessing its performance against established plans and identifying areas requiring improvement.

He noted that Wednesday’s visit was the Committee’s first formal oversight engagement with the Commission, following several quarterly briefing sessions during which the management presented updates on its activities and received feedback from lawmakers.

According to him, the Committee had consistently assessed the Commission’s performance against the plans presented by its management and provided useful guidance to strengthen implementation.

“One thing I would like to stress is the importance of the parliamentary support we receive from the House Committee. This must be about the sixth time we have met. This is our first oversight meeting, but we have had over five or six quarterly briefing sessions.

“At every point, the Committee tracks how we are performing in comparison with the plan we presented last year. The valuable input and feedback we continue to receive have been very helpful,” he said.

The SEDC managing director added that the lawmakers’ representation of constituencies across the South-East made their contributions valuable in identifying local needs and incorporating them into the Commission’s development strategy.

He commended Nkwonta and members of the Committee for their continued support, expressing confidence that stronger collaboration between the Commission, the National Assembly and other critical stakeholders would improve the implementation of development programmes across the region.

The Commission is expected to use its institutional structure and strategic roadmap to coordinate development interventions aimed at addressing the South-East’s challenges, with its management seeking sustained legislative support and stakeholder collaboration to deliver on its mandate.