Finance Minister

The Nigeria Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has 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 adding that 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.

Finance minister declared that total sum of 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.