Suspension of school feeding programme causing surge in out-of-school children – Lawmaker

A lawmaker at the House of Representatives, Muktar Zakari says the prolonged suspension of the out-of-school feeding programme by President Bola Tinubu is contributing to the menace of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

Mr Zakari said this in a motion he moved on the floor of the House on Thursday during plenary.

It would be recalled that President Tinubu suspended all Programmes under the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA.

The programmes include N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer, Government Enterprise and Empowerment, and Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

The lawmaker said the prolonged suspension without an alternative is “unsettling for several reasons, namely reduced school enrolment and attendance”.

“The cancellation of the programme is causing an upsurge in the number of out-of-school children, posing a threat to the country’s future and leading to a high rate of crimes, insecurity, and unemployment,” Mr Zakari said.

Consequently, the House resolved that the Committees on Special Duties and Finance should investigate the scheme and report to the House for appropriate action.