School Feeding Programme Laced With Unverified Data — House of Reps.

The House of Representatives has alleged that the Federal Government National Home Grown School Feeding Programme is bereft of datas that are unverifiable since the inception of the initiative.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Wole Oke representing Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency, Osun State.

Meanwhile, the Buhari led administration initiative was lauded by the House but it was stated that as part of its oversight functions, there is a necessity to ensure that public funds are accounted for and properly used.

In this light, the House Chair, directed the National Bureau of Statistics and the Statistician-General of the Federation to supply the details of data of the schools that have benefited from the scheme. Meanwhile, the Statistician General, Mr. Yemi Kale disclosed that the details would be supplied as requested.

In addition, the House demanded for the details of the contracted food vendors and the yardstick used in their selections noting that this is expedient in order to safe guard the health and lives of the children.

Beside, it was disclosed that the direction is in consonance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that there have been controversial issues trailing the initiative since the Federal Government disclosed that the Programme still continues in the face of the pandemic whilst the children are at home as a result of the pandemic.

It is further recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party had heavily criticized the scheme noting that it was just a quest to embezzle public funds.