The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday denied the allegation of N500billion Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds is missing.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala spoke at an interactive session with the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on SURE-P in Abuja.
She said there was no substance in the allegation.
The Minister challenged the Committee to invite all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that are stakeholders in the administration of SURE-P funds to a joint meeting, where the discrepancies would be sorted out.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said: “As far as I am aware, there is no SURE-P money missing. The difference in the amount that comes to the Federal Government goes to the state and local government accounts.”
The Minister, however, did not give details of the number of litres of fuel consumed monthly and how the amount due to the Federal Government has remained N15billion monthly despite fluctuating oil revenue.
Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said that it is only the committee on SURE-P that can provide details about that since her Ministry was only directly responsible for the graduate internship programme.
She said: “I was directly responsible for the graduate internship Programme. That is our direct role within the SURE-P. Amount accrued to the Federal Government is published each month. For me, the focus is on graduate internship programme, which is under the Ministry of Finance.
“It was the desire of Nigerians that SURE-P be run separately. This is the reason a committee was set up to oversight the fund and administer it. As a Minister of Finance, my role is minimal.
“It is sad that despite the efforts of Mr. President to ensure transparency and erase suspicion in the minds of Nigerians by creating SURE P committee, I am made to account for missing money.”
She acknowledged that N816billion accrued to SURE-P from January 2012 to December 2013.
Out of the amount, she explained that the Federal Government got N300billion while the balance N516 billion was shared by the states and local governments. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Let your accusers go to shame. You have performed creditably well so far. How I wish we have more of your type in sensitive positions in this country. We would have gone places. May God continue to protect and engrace you in Jesus name
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