Delta releases N1.6b SURE-P funds to councils

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has disclosed that the state government has released over N1.6 billion to the 25 local government councils being their share of the SURE-P funds
Governor Uduaghan, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay, at the SURE-P Interactive Session/Town Hall Meeting with Stakeholders and Traditional Rulers in Asaba, the state capital, at the weekend, stated that some local government councils were already implementing some of the approved programmes and projects after due consultation with the state government.
The governor said that the SURE-P initiative was an addition to the state projects and programmes, which were all put in place to ensure that the downtrodden, women and youths in the rural communities were not left out of the benefits and dividends of democracy.
His words: “Here in Delta State, we have put up a lot of projects and programmes to make sure that the downtrodden, women and youths in the rural and riverine communities are not left out of the benefits and dividends of democracy. So, SURE-P is an addition to our schemes and everything will be done to ensure the success of this initiative.”
Dr. Uduaghan informed the audience that the government was poised to tackle headlong the challenges posed by climate change, explaining that the state was a member of the R20 Team, a body dedicated to tackling the issue of climate change.
He called on royal fathers to assist the state government in monitoring projects that would be set up by the SURE-P initiative, stressing that President Goodluck Jonathan set it up to ensure that individuals at the grassroots were not neglected.
“I implore our Royal Fathers, who are the custodians of the people, to help in monitoring projects that is set up by the SURE-P Initiative as Mr. President with all good intentions has put up the SURE-P Initiative so that people at the rural level will not be neglected,” he said.
Governor Uduaghan assured the delegates that the state government would continue to collaborate and cooperate with the Federal Government and remain loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party at the state and national levels.
In a brief speech, the Minister of Labor and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, stated that the SURE-P Initiative was designed to transfer part of the wealth saved from the oil subsidy to provide employment opportunities to women, youths and people with disabilities in the various communities.
Wogu said that the royal fathers were the true advocates of the people at the grassroots, stating that their presence would make the SURE-P Initiative more meaningful to the people.
Speaking on behalf of the royal fathers, the Ovie of Uwvie Kingdom, Abe I, said that the SURE-P Initiative should be properly formed in the state, stating that the royal fathers should be carried along and be well informed on the priorities of the SURE-P Initiative.
He commended President Jonathan on the SURE-P Initiative and assured the delegates of the commitment of the royal fathers in ensuring the success of the initiative in the state.
Beneficiaries present at the occasion commended President Jonathan for instituting the SURE-P Initiative and assured the delegates of their dedication to the initiative.