FG approves N240m for purchase of 44 locally assembled vehicles for SURE-P community programme

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N240 million for the purchase of 44 locally assembled Innoson Utility vehicles for the implementation of the SURE-P Community programme nationwide.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the vehicles were being procured from an indigenous vehicle manufacturing company in line with the Federal Government’s policy on patronage of made-in-Nigeria products.

He said the vehicles would be allocated to all the Coordinating Chairmen of the Community Service Women and Youths Employment (CSWYE) in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to him, the vehicles will be used to facilitate the monitoring and supervision of CSWYE programme in all the states and local government areas of the federation.

Wogu said: “Today, I presented a memorandum to council for approval for direct procurement of 44 number of utility vehicles known as IVM G5 Utility vehicles and the council approved it.

“The most important thing is that these vehicles are produced in Nigeria, precisely in Nnewi, Anambra State, by a very indigenous company known and called, ‘Innoson Vehicle Manufacturer Company Ltd.

“These vehicles are procured for the use of the SURE-P component known as Community Service for Women and Youths Employment. It is for the Coordinating Chairmen in the 36 states and FCT,“ he said.

Wogu said that the Community Service Women and Youths Employment programme had so far successfully created more than 118,000 jobs, while 80,000 new jobs would be created in 2014.

Also speaking on the same programme, the Minister of Informatiion, Mr Labaran Maku, dismissed the assertion that the vehicles were being allocated to members of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign organisation in the states ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

He said that the Community Service Women and Youths Employment programme was not a political tool, but a scheme meant to uplift the quality of life of youths and women irrespective of their geo-political backgrounds.

Maku said: “So, the SURE-P is not for partisanship. It has made a fundamental difference in the way we are facing infrastructural projects today. So, it is not partisan at all. We are going in an election now, so, everybody will ask all such of ridiculous questions.

“So, like I said, there must be a limit to partisanship. So, we want the media to really help us, because it appears to me, today, that the media is just focusing.

“If you go to a rural area and the market square is not clear, what is President Jonathan doing. He does not clear market.

“The constitution does not say the President will be the one who will clear markets in rural areas. We have a local government there, we have a councillor who controls the local market,“ he said. (NAN)