Governors of the five South‑East states have resolved to inject an additional ₦25 billion into the 2026 budget of the South East Development Commission, raising its funding to an expected ₦165 billion, a Senate committee official said.
The contribution is to augment the commission’s proposed allocation of ₦140 billion for the 2026 fiscal year.
The decision was disclosed during the submission of the commission’s 2026 budget report to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, said each of the five governors; from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states, agreed to contribute ₦5 billion.
The additional funding will increase the commission’s expected budget from ₦140 billion to ₦165 billion for 2026.
Kalu said the augmentation followed consultations with the governors and other stakeholders in the region.
He said it became necessary after the commission received little funding in 2025, which left several projects and strategic initiatives suspended and pending.
He described the 2026 proposal as including both fresh appropriations and intervention funds to reactivate stalled projects and “restore developmental momentum” across the South‑East.
Kalu told senators that the additional ₦25 billion would enable the SEDC to accelerate development across key sectors such as health and education.
Receiving the report on behalf of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman, Senator Tahir Monguno commended the governors’ commitment.
Monguno expressed hope that governors in other geopolitical zones would “emulate” the South‑East initiative in supporting regional development commissions.
The South East Development Commission was established to address infrastructure deficits and socio‑economic challenges in the region by driving investment in sectors including roads, healthcare, education and youth empowerment.
