By Chris Johnson

Copyright dailypost

The South East Youth Forum, SEYF, has called on the Federal Government to urgently release funds for the South East Development Commission SEDC, to enable the agency to begin work across the region. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, recently revealed that the funds approved for the commission have not yet been released, despite the presidential assent, the appointment of a board and the approval of a budget. In reaction to the delay, Convener of SEYF, Obiora Osunkwo, alleged a betrayal of the expectations created when the SEDC was established. He claimed that the inability of the SEDC to access its approved funds has rendered the commission handicapped and incapable of delivering the reconstruction, reintegration and reconciliation that the people of the South East were promised,” Osunkwo said in a statement on Thursday. He said the South East has waited decades for the implementation of the “three Rs,” Reconstruction, Reintegration and Reconciliation, and that the creation of the SEDC was supposed to be the instrument to deliver those guarantees. In his words, “We remind Mr President that the agitation in the South East remains intense and that promises unfulfilled deepen frustrations and widen the trust deficit between the region and the centre.” SEYF urged the presidency, ministries and treasury agencies to ensure the immediate release of the SEDC funds so that SEDC board can activate projects across agriculture, energy, infrastructure, technology and trade. “The SEDC has a statutory mandate to drive sustainable development, promote investment and upgrade critical infrastructure across the South East, and that mandate cannot be fulfilled while the commission remains unfunded,” Osunkwo said. The youth forum also aligned with Kalu’s position that the release of SEDC funds would be a strategic tool in addressing insecurity in the region. “Once agriculture, commerce, infrastructure and jobs are activated, insecurity will reduce. The SEDC is not just a development tool it is also a peacebuilding mechanism. “It is untenable that agencies with the mandate to rebuild and provide hope are unable to commence work because funds remain tied up. The people’s patience is wearing thin,” Osunkwo said. SEYF called on the Accountant-General’s office, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies to publish a clear timetable for the disbursement of SEDC funds. The group also urged the SEDC leadership to release a 100-day implementation plan, prioritised projects and a stakeholder engagement schedule. “Development institutions without funds are symbolic at best and damaging at worst because they create hope that is later dashed by inaction,” Osunkwo said. He urged the president to demonstrate political will by ordering the immediate release of the funds and affirming that there would be no further delays. “To the people of the South East we say: hold your peace but keep your vigilance; your demands for justice, development and dignity are legitimate and must be answered with concrete action and not mere rhetoric,” he said.