Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq has disclosed that the Federal Government has provided funds for the supplies of food stuffs and cooks under the Home Grown School Feeding Programme for January 2020, to feed 9.9 million pupils.

Speaking on the provision of funds for programme, the Minister said that the funds were released last year December, to ensure that the suppliers and cooks get enough time to stock foodstuffs and the pupils eat their meals timely.

According to her, the payment covered the cost of feeding pupils in the 33 participating states.

In her words: “We believe that paying these funds early is critical to the success of the programme. We do not want any hitches, and we want to ensure that the school children are fed on time, and without any excuses.”

The Minister also stated that one of the reasons for initiating the programme was because of the recorded reports of increased attendance in schools and hygiene concerns among pupils.

She further urged the government not to relent in its efforts in ascertaining the nutritional quality of the meals given to the school children.

SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA