2026 : South East Govs add N25bn to SEDC’s N140bn budget – Senate

By Haruna Salami and Musa Baba Adamu

The Governors of the South East states have agreed to contribute N5billion each to N140billion allocated to South East Development Commission ( SEDC) for the 2026 fiscal year.
Chairman of Senate Committee on the Commission , Senator Orji Uzor Kalu ( Abia North) , made the disclosure yesterday during submission of report on the commission’s 2026 budget to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Budgetary augmentation for the commission by the South East Governors according to Senator Kalu , was arrived at , for impactful development – driven projects execution in 2026 across the five states .
“ The Commission received hardly any funding in 2025 fiscal year. Consequently, several projects and strategic initiatives were suspended and remain pending.
“The 2026 proposal is therefore for both fresh appropriation and necessary intervention to re-activate stale projects and restore developmental momentum across the region.
“ In view of this, as chairman of the committee, one who has had deliberation with the governors and major stakeholders in the Southeast region, respectfully requesting that the committee consider an additional N5 billion allocation to each of the states, amounting to N25 billion to augment the N140 billion.
“ This additional provision will enable SEDC to accelerate the development of the
Region in health and educational sectors, in line with the Federal Government Renewed Hope Agenda”, he said.
In his remarks , Senator Tahir Monguno who stood in for chairman of the Appropriations committee , Senator Solomon Adeola , to receive the report, lauded the initiative and wished that Governors in other zones, emulate their South East counterparts.