The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to food vendors in the national homegrown school feeding programme that they risk losing their jobs if found wanting. Dr Rabiat Shehu-Jimoh, the focal person for the National Social Investment Programmes in Kwara State, revealed that the names of some nonperforming cooks have been submitted to Abuja for appropriate action.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ consultative workshop on the development of a national policy for the school feeding programme, Shehu-Jimoh explained that some cooks were receiving payment but not cooking. She added that they cannot overlook their actions because it would shortchange the children.
Mrs Christy Abayomi, the lead for the programme in Kwara State, supported Shehu-Jimoh’s claim and called for the engagement of only food vendors and local farmers resident in the host community of the schools targeted to benefit in the programme.
The workshop also frowned on the politicisation of the programme, with participants advocating that only relevant ministries, departments, and agencies capture school feeding schemes in their budgets and ensure that such funds are released for their intended purpose.