The SouthEast Development Commission (SEDC) has presented a 150 billion naira budget to the Senate committee, sparking outrage and disappointment. The allocation of funds raises serious concerns about the agency's priorities, with a 3.5 billion naira budget earmarked for Southeast security and 10.5 billion naira for security equipment.

A staggering 460 million naira was reportedly spent on a 4-day conference in Enugu, considered in some quarters as a blatant display of fiscal irresponsibility. The Senators at the screening were right to express dissatisfaction with the budget, pointing out that most of the funds were earmarked for conferences, consultations, and interventions.

The SEDC's focus on "big big English" over infrastructural reforms and projects is a slap in the face to the people of Southeast Nigeria, who expect tangible development. It's time for Dr. Mark Okoye Jnr and his team to get their priorities straight and serve the people, not their own interests. The people deserve better than empty promises and smoke and mirrors budgets.