A significant dispute has erupted between the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) over the assessment of the commission's performance and use of its allocated funds in the 2025 budget.
SEDC Counters Allegations of Zero Impact
A senior official from the SEDC has strongly rejected conclusions made by HURIWA's development researchers. The rights group had asserted that despite an approved budget of N140 billion for the SEDC in the 2025 national budget, no tangible infrastructural impacts have been witnessed in Nigeria's South-East region.
The SEDC official, who chose to remain anonymous, countered this claim by pointing out a critical timeline. The official stated that the commission was only inaugurated in February 2025. This, they argued, makes HURIWA's assessment premature. The official further challenged the methodology of the report, suggesting that HURIWA should have first submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to obtain verified data from the commission.
A Clash of Narratives and a Demand for Retraction
In a pointed communication, the SEDC representative told HURIWA, "We were inaugurated in February 2025. The SEDC was captured in the 2025 budget. So the budget has been implemented. You missed it totally." The official invited scrutiny, saying, "You can seek FOI and find out what has been released to us."
The commission's response took a stern tone, accusing HURIWA of irresponsible journalism. The official demanded a public retraction and apology, stating that the report had unfairly projected the SEDC as "dishonest and fraudulent" and misled the public into believing that N140 billion had been misappropriated.
HURIWA Stands By Call for Accountability
HURIWA, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, maintained its position. Onwubiko noted that the SEDC official could not specify the exact amount of funds released to the commission or detail the specific projects initiated within its first year of operation.
The group clarified that the objective of its media advocacy was not to tarnish reputations but to encourage openness, transparency, and accountability. HURIWA referenced Section 22 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which assigns a watchdog role to the media, and denied any intent to label SEDC management as fraudulent. Their stated goal remains to push for a full and transparent account of the commission's activities since becoming operational.
The standoff highlights ongoing tensions between public institutions and civil society groups regarding the scrutiny of budgetary allocations and project execution. The SEDC's challenge for an FOI request sets the stage for a more formal exchange of information, which could provide clearer insights into the deployment of the substantial 2025 allocation.
