FG Spends N6.2bn to Feed Pupils in 14 States

By Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

The federal government yesterday said it had spent over N6.2 billion to feed about 3,000,000 pupils under its National Homegrown School Feeding Programme in pursuit of its Social Investment Programme (SIP).

A statement by acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, said a total of N6,204,912,889 had been paid out to 14 states in the school year ending August 2017.

He listed the 14 states to include Anambra, Enugu, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Delta, Abia, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba and Kaduna.

He also said a total of 2,827,501 school children are currently benefiting from the programme while 33,895 cooks had equally been engaged in the communities where the schools are located across the 14 states.

Osinbajo gave the breakdown of the payment to each state and the number of school children being fed under the programme as follows:

“Anambra State received a total of N693,013,300, while a total of 103,742 children have been fed thus far, with 1,009 cooks paid.

“Enugu State got a total of N571,877,400 and 108,898 children have been fed so far, with 1,276 cooks paid.

“In Oyo State, a total of N490,296,800  was released by the federal government for the feeding of 107,983 children, with 1.372 cooks engaged.

“Osun State received a total of N1,000,394,888 for the feeding of 151,438 children. A total of 2,863 cooks were engaged in the state.

“Similarly, Ogun State received a total of N1,042,217,400 for the feeding of 231,660 school children, while a total of 2,205 cooks were paid.

“For Ebonyi State, a total of N344,633,100 has been released for the feeding of 163,137 pupils so far with a total of 1,453 cooks paid.

“In the same vein, Zamfara State received a total of N402,295,600 for the feeding of 107,347 school children, while 1,127 cooks were engaged.

“Delta State received a total of N225,896,300 for the feeding of 141,663 pupils. A total of 1,364 cooks were engaged in the state.

“Abia and Benue States received a total of N128,763,600 and N337,157,800 respectively to feed a total of 61,316 and 240,827 pupils respectively. In Abia State, a total of 750 cooks were engaged, while 3,344 cooks were paid in Benue State.

“Similarly, Plateau and Bauchi States received a total of N133,187,600 and N214,909,101 for the feeding of a total of 95,134 and 307,013 pupils respectively in the states. Also, 1,418 cooks have so far been engaged in Plateau State, with 3,261 in Bauchi State.

“For Taraba State, a total of N120,284,500 was paid and 171,835 pupils have thus far been fed with a total of 2,596 cooks paid.

“Kaduna State received a total of N499,985,500 while 835,508 pupils have been fed so far. Also, a total of 9,857 cooks were paid under the programme in the state.

“More states and primary school pupils across the country are expected to benefit from the feeding programme by the time schools reopen next month for a new session,” Akande explained.