The Senate has appointed Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) as the pioneer Chairman of the newly created Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission.
The SEDC is one of the regional development commissions recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu to address key socio-economic and infrastructural challenges in the South-East region.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during a plenary session.
Before this appointment, Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State, served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation.
Additionally, Senator Ken Eze (Ebonyi Central) was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the committee. Akpabio noted that other members of the committee would be announced in due course.
With this appointment, Senator Kalu is expected to lead the committee in conducting oversight of the South-East Development Commission. The commission’s objectives include civil restitution, tackling erosion, restoring security, and improving infrastructure, among other developmental projects.
Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed an 18-member leadership team for the South-East Development Commission. The appointees include:
– Chairman: Dr. Emeka Nworgu
– Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer: Hon. Mark Okoye
– Members:
– Ugochukwu H. Agballah
– Hon. Okey Izenwa
– Chief Hyacinth Ikpor
– Chidi Echeazu
– Ifeanyi Agwu
– Nasiru Usman
– Hamma Adama Ali
– Kumo Edward David Onoja
– Orure Kufre Inima
– Daniel Akwari
– Chief (Mrs) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma
– Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka (E.D. Finance)
– Chief Sylvester Okonkwo (E.D. Corporate Services)
– Hon. Toby Okechukwu (E.D. Projects)
– Senator Anthony Agbo (E.D. Commercial and Industrial Development)
– Dr. Clifford Ogbede (E.D. Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development)
With these appointments, the commission is expected to commence operations and work towards fulfilling its mandate of accelerating the development of the South-East region.