THE NEMESIS CALLED SURE-P (2)

Last two weeks president Goodluck Jonathan presented 2013 budget proposal to the joint session of national assembly at Abuja with the theme of ‘Fiscal consolidation with exclusive growth’. As Nigeria is moving toward economic freedom and self-sufficiency by Mr. President Transformations Agenda.

If my memory will serve me well, President Goodluck Jonathan had assured Nigerians that the incomes of the partial withdrawal of petroleum subsidies will be applied to implementing the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P). In the 2012 fiscal year, the federal government also voted for N180 billion for the implementation of social safety net programmes, road and rail infrastructure projects. So far, N36.5 billion of this amount has been utilized to support maternal and child health programmes as well as mass transit, roads and rail projects and job creation through the Community Services and Public Works programme.

 

The SURE-P Board under the able chairmanship of Dr. Christopher Kolade is presently working hard to ensure the successful oversight of the implementation of this programed. Also Mr.prsident launched the Community Service, Women and Youth Empowerment Program (CSWYEP) under the SURE-P in February 2012. Which is now working in pilot phase in 14 states, and to be replicated in other states in 2 weeks. The federal government innovate the Graduate Internship Programme, in which participating private companies provide one-year internships to 50,000 graduates, paid by the Federal Government. So far, 700 firms, and 20,000 young graduates have applied to participate in this scheme.

 

President Goodluck Jonathan assured Nigerians in his 2013 budget  proposal speech  that the SURE-P will continue with the expected resources of N180 billion in 2013 augmented by the projected 2012 unspent balances bringing the total to about N273.5 billion. Urge the law makers to look into Mr. president 2013 budget proposal by proper debate before  the approval in other to ensure Mr. president Good will to Nigerians.