The South-East Zone of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Wednesday, expressed displeasure with the Senate Committee on South East Development Commission, SEDC, over what it said was a media trial of the commission’s officials in the National Assembly last week.
The group claimed that the manner Senator Orji Kalu-led Senate Committee treated the commission’s Managing Director, Dr Mark Okoye, “was a script disguised as oversight function”. It therefore asked the Senate to allow Okoye to discharge his mandate.
The position of the group was stated during a press conference in Enugu. The Vice President of NYCN in South East, Comrade Henry Atigwe, said, “We take exception to the media trial of the commission in Abuja without proper oversight functions by the Senate. The committee has some other selfish motives other than the interest of the people of the South East.”
Atigwe said since SEDC’s establishment, expectations had been high for action on decades of infrastructural deficits, economic challenges, youth unemployment, and developmental neglect.
While describing the Commission as a young institution, Atigwe said significant foundational efforts had already begun under Dr Okoye.
Quoting the group, “The South-East Development Commission stands today as one of the most proactive regional intervention agencies in the country.”
Atigwe listed developmental programmes, strategic engagements, capacity-building initiatives, economic empowerment, and institutional frameworks as areas where the Commission has shown commitment to repositioning the region for sustainable growth.
The council emphasized that meaningful development requires vision, planning, consistency, and institutional stability. It stated that no serious development agency “can achieve transformational outcomes overnight”, àdding that “success depends on strong leadership, continuity, stakeholder collaboration, and public support”.
NYCN said Dr Okoye possesses the competence, public policy experience, and strategic leadership needed for institution-building. It said his track record in governance, economic development, investment promotion, and public administration had earned him confidence from stakeholders within and outside the region, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The council urged stakeholders to assess the Commission based on measurable outcomes, ongoing initiatives, institutional reforms, and long-term vision rather than distractions. It warned against division, unnecessary controversies, and attempts to undermine institutions working for the progress of the people.
NYCN expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for establishing SEDC and appointing Okoye to lead it. The council said the president’s commitment demonstrates a genuine desire for inclusiveness, regional development, and national progress.
NYCN called on South-East governors to continue supporting the Commission, saying it is yielding positive results. It urged collective support for initiatives that promote development, job creation, industrialization, entrepreneurship, innovation, peace, and prosperity.
(The Whistler)
