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By Oscar Okhifo
The Southeast Development Agenda (SEDA) has called for an urgent legislative review of the proposed ₦140 billion 2026 budget of the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC), raising concerns that heavy allocations to administrative and recurrent costs could undermine critical infrastructure and economic development in the region.
In a statement issued on March 1 and signed by its Convener, Comrade Nelson Nwafor, and Secretary, Chiemezie Oluoha, the civil society and socio-political organisation said its review of publicly available budget details revealed substantial spending on consultancies, media campaigns, stakeholder engagements, travel, and other overhead costs.
The group expressed concern that such provisions appear to outweigh direct and transformative capital projects expected to drive economic growth across the Southeast.
SEDA questioned what it described as excessive consultancy and advisory costs, noting that billions of naira were earmarked for legal setup, financial advisory services, feasibility studies, business case development, and fund structuring.
“These allocations raise serious questions about cost efficiency and possible duplication,” the statement read.
It also faulted allocations for branding, investor roadshows, stakeholder engagements, diaspora programmes, and media campaigns, arguing that the emphasis appears tilted toward promotional activities rather than tangible development outcomes.
The group further highlighted significant provisions for local and international travel, refreshments, and consumables, calling for stricter fiscal discipline in a region grappling with unemployment and infrastructure deficits.
According to SEDA, the budget breakdown it reviewed does not clearly identify flagship infrastructure projects such as major roads, industrial parks, power initiatives, water systems, or agro-processing hubs.
Projects it said would deliver immediate and measurable economic impact.
The organisation also called for legal clarity regarding allocations for surveillance infrastructure and regional security operations, urging transparent coordination with constitutionally recognized security authorities.
While acknowledging that institutional setup and stakeholder engagement are legitimate components of a newly operational commission, SEDA maintained that such expenditures must be proportionate, transparent, and clearly tied to measurable outcomes.
“Development commissions exist to catalyse structural transformation, not to expand bureaucratic layers or prioritize ceremonial engagements,” the group stated.
SEDA is demanding a comprehensive review of the 2026 budget to rebalance spending in favour of capital-intensive infrastructure and productive investments.
It also called for the full publication of the detailed budget breakdown, including capital-to-recurrent expenditure ratios, procurement plans, beneficiary projections, and key performance indicators.
In addition, the organization proposed the establishment of an independent citizens’ oversight committee comprising civil society organisations, professional associations, private sector representatives, youth and women’s groups, and development finance experts to monitor project implementation and budget releases on a quarterly basis.
The group said it remains open to constructive engagement with the leadership of the Southeast Development Commission and other relevant authorities to ensure that public resources are deployed in line with the economic aspirations and development priorities of the region