The Chairman of the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission (SEDC), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has expressed satisfaction with the level of work on the Commission’s headquarters in Enugu State.
Kalu, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, spoke on Monday when he led members of the Senate Committee on an oversight visit to inspect the ongoing project and assess the Commission’s operations in Enugu.
The former Abia State governor said the lawmakers observed noticeable improvements compared to the situation during their earlier engagements with the Commission.
He, however, urged the management to sustain the pace of work, disclosing that the Committee would return in December for another assessment.
“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, which is being completed for its use.
He described the headquarters building as a good edifice, noting that the level of work observed during the inspection was encouraging.
“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,” he said.
According to him, the concern over the location of the Commission’s offices has now been addressed.
“Our quarrel before was about being in Abuja and not being in Enugu. So that quarrel is over now,” he added.
Kalu further urged the Commission to extend its activities to communities across the South East, stressing that its presence should be felt at the grassroots rather than being limited to administrative offices.
He acknowledged that the Commission was still relatively new but maintained that its management must continue working towards fulfilling the responsibilities for which it was established.
“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 review the progress of work on the headquarters and assess other aspects of the Commission’s operations.
