The federal government has so far spent N1.5 billion for Home-Grown Schools Feeding Programme in Bauchi State.
Special Assistant to governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar on Non-Governmental Organisations ( NGOs) and Social Investment Programmes, Mansur Soro disclosed this while briefing journalists in Bauchi.
According to him, the school feeding programme is in its third phase in the state which will commenced in January 2018 after resumption from Christmas break.
"Over 2,000 schools across the state are involved in the programme involving 5,005 cooks feeding 501,399.000.00 children," he said.
Soro informed that, according to the feeding roster, the students are fed Rice, stew, meat and beans on Mondays, Jollof Rice and Meat on Tuesdays, Beans Porridge and Bread on Wednesdays, Yam and Fish on Thursdays while they are being given Moi-Moi and Eggs on Fridays.
He debunked reports about alleged sharp practices in the running of the school feeding programme in the state that some people are misusing funds meant for the feeding and other allegations.
He further informed that there are 83 meat collection points across the state as against 200 being rumoured.
According to him, the school feeding programme is making progress in the state saying that they have not encountered any serious challenge save for the one they had with the head of the meat supply company.
He added that the allegations that some people are siphoning the funds meant for the school feeding programme was baseless because the federal government pays the cooks directly through their accounts not through any third party.
"However you cannot stop people from raising complaints. Whereever you go throughout the country, you will hear similar complaints about the school feeding programme. It is only that it might be less in the South than here," he said.
He added that one of the advantages of the school feeding programme in the state was that it has increased enrolment and has improved the learning environment for the pupils and provided them with nutritious, balanced diet.
He added that the cooks engaged have gotten employment through the programme while farmers have also gotten a large market for their produce which is contributing to the economy of the state.
