Wednesday, February 6, 2013

We Can’t Control How Governors Spend SURE-P Funds – Christopher Kolade

The chairman of  Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Dr Christopher Kolade has distanced his committee from calls to check state governors on how they utilize proceeds from SURE-P accruals to the states.

Speaking to state house correspondents after a meeting with the President on Tuesday, the SURE-P chairman maintained that he cannot supervise the states disbursement of their funds since the constitution stipulates the independence of states in managing whatever allocation is due to them.
His response came on the backdrop of Benue government’s intention to spend SURE-P fund on HIV/AIDS treatments in the state.
He explained that the constitution states that once an allocation is made to the state, the authority for dispensing that money belongs to the state.
He however noted that contrary to public condemnation which he termed political, the manager of the programme stated that SURE-P is working according to its mandate.
Dr Kolade also noted that there are different areas of works that includes, infrastructure, building roads, rails, mass transit and also maternal and child healthcare which it has performed creditably well.
According to him, thousands of young Nigerians are now benefiting from the employment programme, from the vocational training to the graduate internship scheme which is part of the 2012 report of SURE-P he submitted to President Jonathan.
On its supposed duplication of Ministry, Department and Agencies work, he said that the National Assembly is entitled to its opinion, adding that any Nigerian can have his/her opinion; however, he added that SURE-P is to add value to what is already on ground.

No comments:

Post a Comment