Good News! Federal Government To Begin Feeding 5.5 Million School Children

The Federal Government has said will commence its National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in September with 5.5 million school pupils across the country.

Mrs. Abimbola Adesanmi, the National Programme Manager for the scheme, who stated this at a stakeholders’ workshop on the Ogun State Home Grown School Feeding Programme, held in Abeokuta, on Wednesday, July 27, said the project would accommodate pupils in primary one to three at the take off stage.

She said while states, depending on readiness, would define their respective model based on cost effectiveness and sustainability, the federal government will provide oversight and technical support.

Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose had insisted that the School Feeding Programme of the federal government must be done without the proposed 40 per cent counterpart funding from the states, saying; “The Federal Government is already looking for excuse for the impending failure of the programme by asking States to contribute 40 per cent to the scheme.”

The governor, who said the school feeding programme was purely a contract between the APC-led Federal Government and Nigerians, asked; “Were the States consulted before the APC made the promise during the presidential campaign? How can you make a promise and win election on the basis of that promise and now expect States to help you to fulfill the promise? That to me is fraud!”