SURE Programme still Operational – Reuben Abati

Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati has released a strongly worded statement in order to clear the air on the purported truncation of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment (SURE) programme.

Recent reports had alleged that the President had disclosed its cancellation to ruling party members at their 58th National Executive Committee meeting. The reason being that the subsidy was not fully removed as intended.

In a press release issued by Mr. Abati, the Presidency has refuted the reports and attempted to shed light on the actual policy stance.

Abati said, “As has become the pattern by some political pundits, whose definition of opposition is to undermine any good policy initiative of the Federal Government, there has been a deliberate misrepresentation of the comments by President Goodluck Jonathan at the 58th National Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party on February 20, 2012 on the issue of reviewing the SURE programme.

“Hence, it has been alleged that the Federal Government has abandoned or is attempting to truncate the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment programme.”

“At no time did President Goodluck Jonathan say that the Federal Government had abandoned the SURE programme. What he said in his opening remarks at the meeting last week was that the full implementation of government’s palliatives to cushion the negative effects of the fuel subsidy removal, as contained in the original SURE programme was no longer feasible and would be reviewed in view of the partial rather than full removal of the subsidy on petrol.

“The SURE programme was predicated on a policy of full deregulation as stated in the SURE document released to the general public. However, due to widely publicised events after the commencement of full deregulation, the government, after a series of negotiations with organised labour, reduced the pump price of petrol.

“It, therefore, follows that the funds that were expected to accrue from full deregulation will no longer accrue since the policy of full deregulation was stepped down for the time being.

“This new reality informed the President’s directive that the original SURE programme documents already circulated to the public be withdrawn in order not to give the public false expectations.

“For those who are still in doubt, let it be stressed that the Dr. Christopher Kolade committee charged with implementing the SURE programme is still at work and has not been disbanded, while a new SURE document containing the reviewed palliatives will soon be released to the public.”