The House of Representatives on Thursday, July 11, urged the federal government to revisit the school feeding programme in all public primary schools in Nigeria.
The House mandated the committees on special duties and finance to invite the ministers of special duties and inter-governmental affairs, education, and finance to revisit the program and propose solutions for its future success.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Urgent Call to Revisit School Feeding Policy” moved by Hon. Muktar Umar Zakari.
The House noted that Nigeria’s National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) was a pilot programme launched in 2004 targeting 12 States to provide a nutritious midday meal to public primary school pupils in the country.
It also noted that in 2016, the programme was relaunched nationally, targeting public primary school children using locally sourced ingredients to improve health, stimulate agricultural production, and boost smallholder farmers’ income.
The House said it was aware that the philosophy behind the NHGSFP is to encourage enrollment into public primary schools, address childhood hunger pangs, and improve their ability to concentrate, learn, and increase school attendance.
It also said it was aware that the program aims to create a positive association between school and a basic need, nutrition, which is essential for children’s well-being.
The House said it aims to increase enthusiasm for school attendance and motivate families to prioritize their children’s education, this positive association can lead to improved attendance, academic performance, and overall educational outcomes.
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It was concerned that the suspension of the NHGSFP by the current administration is unsettling for several reasons, namely reduced school enrollment and attendance, compromised health and cognitive development of the children, and disruption of the income of smallholder farmers.
The House recognized that addressing the programme’s challenges is crucial, but a complete suspension may cause more harm, therefore, it is important to find alternative solutions or efficient implementation of the NHGSFP to ensure Nigerian children continue to benefit from this important initiative.
It worried that the cancellation of the program 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.