By BONIFACE AKARAH

The South East Development Agenda (SEDA) has called for robust legislative oversight, independent monitoring and full transparency in the management of the proposed $200 billion economic transformation blueprint of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).

In a press statement issued on February 27, 2026, in Enugu and jointly signed by its Convener, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and Secretary, Chiemezielam Kelechi Oluoha Steve Esq, the group said while it welcomed the Nigerian Senate’s endorsement of the ambitious regional development framework, such approval “must be matched with rigorous oversight, institutional safeguards, and transparent implementation mechanisms to prevent systemic failure, elite capture, and corruption.”

“The South East cannot afford another intervention agency that falls short of expectations due to weak governance structures, political patronage, or opaque financial management,” the statement read.

The group demanded what it described as “total legislative and public oversight,” urging the National Assembly to institute quarterly public budget performance hearings, mandatory project-by-project financial disclosures, independent annual audits, and real-time tracking of fund releases and utilization.

“Oversight must go beyond routine budget defence sessions. It must be continuous, forensic, and accessible to citizens,” SEDA stated.

Raising concerns over political appointments within the Commission, the organisation stressed the need for independent, non-state actor monitoring of all projects and expenditures.

“Development must not be supervised exclusively by political appointees,” the statement said.

SEDA proposed the creation of a Civil Society and Professional Bodies Oversight Coalition, a public infrastructure monitoring dashboard, and a community-based project verification network across the five South-East states. It said such mechanisms should include civil society organisations, professional associations, private sector representatives, youth and women-led groups, as well as the media.

On procurement, the group insisted on strict compliance with Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act, open competitive bidding, public advertisement of contracts, publication of awarded contractors and contract sums, and blacklisting mechanisms for non-performing contractors.

“Procurement opacity is the single largest gateway to development failure in Nigeria. The South East must break that cycle,” SEDA declared.

The organisation also called for proactive fiscal transparency, including monthly publication of allocations and expenditures, public access to project timelines, geotagged project tracking, and independent audits by reputable external firms.

“The South East Development Commission must not become another bureaucratic institution weighed down by political patronage and opaque spending. This is a defining moment for our region,” the statement read.

“We demand total oversight, open procurement, independent monitoring, and proactive fiscal transparency. The people of the South East deserve measurable development outcomes, not projections on paper.”

SEDA further warned that the $200 billion vision would remain aspirational unless grounded in “strong governance systems, institutional independence, citizen participation, and results-based implementation.”

While describing the Commission as a historic opportunity to address infrastructure deficits and stimulate industrial growth, the group cautioned that without deliberate transparency safeguards, it risks replicating “the structural weaknesses seen in previous intervention agencies across Nigeria.”

It therefore urged the Senate to formalise enhanced oversight mechanisms, called on the Commission to voluntarily adopt open governance standards, and encouraged civil society and professional bodies to mobilise for structured monitoring engagement.

“The people of the South East deserve development that is measurable, accountable, and corruption-resistant,” SEDA stated. “History will judge this Commission not by its projections, but by its integrity and delivery.”