19th October, 2017
Mrs Beatrice Kitchener, Taraba Focal Person, Special Intervention and Social Investment Programme, on Thursday said the Federal Government had so far spent over N280 million for primary schools feeding programme in the state.
Kitchener, who made the disclosure at a news conference in Jalingo, said the funds meant for 30 days feeding, were disbursed to over 2,600 accredited food vendors through their bank accounts.
She also said over 5,000 vendors initially applied for the catering services but that over 2,600 were successful for the first phase of the programme.
Kitcherner promised that would work hard to ensure that the errors in the profile data of the remaining vendors were corrected so that they could be captured in the second phase of the programme.
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She said almost 200,000 pupils across the state were currently benefiting from the programme, adding that about 200,000 more pupils would be captured in the feeding programme soon.
According to her, the duration for the programme is two years, adding that benefiting pupils must be between primary one and three.
The official said she had devised effective mechanism of monitoring vendors to ensure that they comply with the rules of the programme and meet its hygienic requirements.
Kitchener, who is also the Special Adviser to Gov Darius Ishaku on Grassroots Matters, commended the Federal Government for the programme aimed at supporting the pupils.