FG Rallies Stakeholders to Relaunch Home-Grown School Feeding Programme

…says programme Requires N900bn to N1trn Annually In a renewed push to combat child hunger, improve education, and stimulate local economies, the Federal Government has initiated fresh consultations with stakeholders on the relaunch and expansion of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP). The high-level meeting, held at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, was spearheaded by the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Tanko Yusuf Sununu. The event marks a significant step towards revitalizing the programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Sununu disclosed that an estimated N900 billion to N1 trillion would be needed annually to provide nutritious meals to primary school pupils in grades 1 to 3. The programme aims to deliver at least three meals per week to each pupil. While noting that appropriations from the federal budget would support the initiative, the Minister stressed the need for additional sources of funding to ensure sustainability. “This programme cannot thrive on government funding alone. Strategic partnerships and innovative funding mechanisms are key to achieving our goals,” he said. Providing further insight, the National Coordinator and CEO of the National Social Investment Programme, Associate Professor Badamasi Lawal, PhD, identified a range of potential funding channels. These include presidential support, international donor contributions, stakeholder grants, and 5% of recovered repatriated funds. “As stakeholders, your technical expertise, strategic insights, and financial backing are invaluable,” Dr. Badamasi stated. “This engagement is not only about collaboration but also about co-creating a system that directly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals—especially the eradication of hunger, the promotion of quality education, and poverty reduction.” He added that the RH-NHGSFP is more than a social programme—it is a key component of the Tinubu administration’s strategy to deliver inclusive and people-centered development. “We are tackling multiple challenges through this initiative: reducing malnutrition, increasing school enrollment, supporting smallholder farmers, and invigorating local economies—one nutritious meal at a time,” he emphasized. Dr. Badamasi also outlined enhancements in the programme’s model, which focus on transparency, efficiency, inclusiveness, and measurable outcomes, with the ultimate goal of making RH-NHGSFP a model for other nations seeking sustainable school feeding systems. The meeting concluded with a presentation by Dr. Princess Aderemi Adebowale, the National Programme Manager, who unveiled the Enhanced Platform of the NHGSFP, signaling the beginning of what many hope will be a more robust, data-driven, and impactful era for school feeding in Nigeria.

Resign, Submit To EFCC Probe, Huriwa Advices Minister Edu

The embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, has been advised to resign or excuse herself from duty for some time so she can submit herself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigations. This is following the Federal Government ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud investigation in NSIPA as it concerns the public fund she allegedly warehoused in a private individual’s bank account. Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) made this advice, premising on the strength of the public sector financial regulations of 2009, which prohibits the payment of public funds to the account of a private individual. Specifically, HURIWA said it is double standard if the president suspended his appointee heading the social investment coordinating office for exactly the allegations of paying in public funds worth over N34 billion as alleged by EFCC into private accounts, but only for the cabinet level minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to be going about the public space seeking justification for also directing that public fund be paid into a private account no matter the status of that account holder. It calls on the President and the EFCC to use a universal yardstick in the enforcement of the anti-graft laws since the law shouldn’t be made to be afraid of certain individuals because they are senior national figures in the ruling All Progressives Congress. “We are not Accusing the minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of committing any infractions, but based on the media statements that her office has issued so far, the attempt to convince Nigerians that it is lawful to keep public fund in private account is just like the polemic promoted by one erstwhile civilian governor of Kano State in the second Republic. “It is incongruous and indeed puerile to say that on one hand, the EFCC arrested one official of the same government over allegations of payments of public funds into private accounts but on the same breath, a cabinet level minister is inundating the public space with her submission that keeping public money in private account of someone heading a certain portfolio, is appropriate. “This sounds illogical and fallacious and by the way, if as the Minister argued that under a certain civil service rule, public funds can be kept under private accounts, why then does the financial regulations Act governing public service in Nigeria say the exact opposite?” It recalled that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has cried out to Nigerians over what she described as “disgruntled elements” trying to stain her hard earned integrity following the Federal Government ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud investigation in NSIPA. The minister said these elements have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure by displaying on social media a memo from the ministry to the Accountant-General of the Federation approving for payment, of the sum of N585,189,500.00 Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups, (GVGs), for four states, which is currently being circulated in the social media. In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Rasheed Zubair, she explains; “For the avoidance of doubt, the said N585,198,500.00 was approved, and it is meant for the implementation of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states. “We must, however, note that GVG was first launched in Kogi state where recipients testified. Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023, Kogi in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks. “The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the federal government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,” the statement contained. In this latest development, Dr. Edu is urging Nigerians to discountence these allegations claiming that “It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear her image and stain her integrity following the Federal Government ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA.

Tinubu Appoints New NSIPA CEO

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo as the new CEO of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA). He was previously serving as the National N-Power Programme manager. This decision follows the suspension of Halima Shehu, the former NSIPA boss, due to allegations of corruption and financial irregularities.  Egbuwalo will serve in an acting capacity until the investigation into Shehu’s tenure concludes. Shehu, appointed by President Tinubu in October 2023 and confirmed by the Senate on October 18, 2023, previously played a pivotal role as the National Coordinator of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.  Her tenure was marked by efforts to digitize the program, leveraging her extensive banking and career background. Before her NSIPA appointment, Shehu held roles at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development from 2017 to 2022.

Tinubu Appoints Pioneer Head Of Social Investment Agency

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs Delu Yakubu as the pioneer National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA). A statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Thursday in Abuja said that the appointment was subject to the Senate confirmation. The National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) (Establishment) Act, 2023, was signed into law on May 22. Yakubu is a recipient of a Masters Degree in agronomy from the State University of Bio-Technology in Kharkiv, Ukraine, with over 15 years of working experience in Social Investment Programme management. The President directed the new appointee to convey the highest level of efficiency, transparency, and qualitative service delivery at NSIPA in line with his determination to actualize the Renewed Hope agenda.