Fayose Sets Aside Political Differences, Adopts Buhari’s School Feeding Programme

Governor Ayo Fayose has decided to ‘set aside [his] political differences’ with President Muhammadu Buhari and partner his government’s school feeding programme.

Governor Fayose said his decision was due to the need to enable pupils from the state benefit from the HomeGrown School Feeding programme of the present administration.

“We have decided to set political differences aside and partner with the federal government for the benefits of our pupils. Our participation will be a boost to our efforts to restore the glory of education in our dear state,” said the governor at a two-day stakeholders’ workshop in Ado Eki.

Fayose, who was represented by Deputy Governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola at the event, declared his support for the programme after getting positive feedbacks from a study on it.

“The study revealed the potentials of the programme to improve the nutrition status of the pupils, increase schools’ enrollment and attendance, energise the local economy and empower certain segments of the population,” he said.

Fayose further called on stakeholders in the state to ensure maximum implementation of the school feeding programme.

“The Team leader of the programme from the Office of the President on National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Mrs. Abimbola Adesanmi, said the programme had been introduced in 21 states adding that the programme would improve the health and nutrition of children as well as improve the local production of agricultural products in the state.

“It is the plan of the federal government that all states key into the programme for the benefit of allour children in public primary schools.

“Attendees of the workshop include officials from NGOs, Community Based Organisarions, Farmers’ Congress and representarives of Ministry of Agriculture among others,” he said.

Recall that Governor Fayose had in 2016 described the HomeGrown School Feeding programme as a mere presidential campaign promise by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that will go unfulfilled.

“The Federal Government is already looking for excuses for the impending failure of the programme by asking states to contribute 40 per cent to the scheme,” Fayose said in a statement.

“Were the states consulted before the APC made the promise during the presidential campaign?” the governor queried.

“How can you make a promise and win election on the basis of that promise and now expect states to help you to fulfil the promise? That to me is fraud.

“Apart from the fact that Ekiti State lacked the financial wherewithal to provide counterpart fund for such a programme, it is the duty of President Muhammed Buhari and his APC that won election on the basis of their promise to give free meal to school pupils to fulfil the promise without placing any burden on other tiers of government.

“Nigerians should come to terms with the reality that the Federal Government is already looking for a ready alibi for the impending failure of the school feeding programme.

“The Federal Government knows that 80 per cent of the states lack the financial will to be able to contribute the 40 per cent counterpart fund for the programme and the time the programme eventually fails, Nigerians will be told that it failed because states did not key in to it,” the governor had said.