Tinubu's 100 Billion Naira School Feeding Program: A Catalyst to Promoting Education or Corruption

President Bola Tinubu signs 2024 Appropriation Bill into law at the State house, Abuja

By Majekodunmi David

It is no longer news that the 2024 Appropriation bill has been signed into law at the State House, Abuja by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Among the bills signed into law was one item that stands out and has led to numerous praises and backlashes by citizens - the school feeding program. It should be noted that the program isn't a new idea or policy framework, instead it is a continuation of the Buhari administration programmes in the Nigeria political space. Government is continuum, hence the continuity by the Tinubu administration aimed to motivate children to go to school.

Statistics shows that a higher percentage of children couldn't receive basic education due to the inability of their parents/guardians to cater for their basic needs such as clothing, feeding, shelter etc. In the light of this, the Federal government led by former President Muhammadu Buhari in a bid to alleviate the difficulties, implemented the school feeding programme.

The school feeding programme is believed will motivate children to go to school, serve as support to parents/guardian, strengthen and promote education in Nigeria, as children will acquire basic education to meet international standard. 

According to M.A David, "Illiteracy is the greatest plague that can ever infect a nation, education is its cure". Policy drafters must have known this, hence the motivation to have keen interest in promoting education.

It is evident that the Tinubu-Led administration  have much interest in education, because one of the first policies signed to law by the administration was the "Student Loan Scheme", which will be fully implemented any moment from now.

Without much ado, the move by the administration has stirred up reactions and counter-reactions. The important question therefore that has been asked and answered without prejudice is; Is the 100 billion school feeding programme a logical or illogical or timely or untimely move by the Tinubu-Led administration?

"It is illogical, untimely and another avenue to embezzle" said Mr. Michael Oduguwa, a renown political scientist from Olabisi Onabanjo University. "why should they spend 100 Billion on school children feeding when they can use that money to improve the educational system of the country which will have a greater impact in our educational sector. 

It’s illogical because the feeding can’t go round and it failed woefully during Buhari-led Administration and it was only Public school that enjoyed the policy which is not right; how do you expect those children to assimilate when the environment is not conducive enough for learning, so instead of spending such amount on feeding they should try to rebuild almost all the public schools in Nigeria" he added.  

He continued by saying "It is untimely because FG removed the fuel subsidy and that also affected the tertiary institutions to increase their fees; so why should the government be spending such amount when a lot of people are struggling to pay their children school fees because of the increase in school fees and the current hardships going on in the country", he remarked emphatically. 

Mr. Michael closed his remark by saying "It is an avenue to embezzle because those that awarded this contract out usually have their own agents and they use it to enrich themselves and majority of those that might be incharge of the feeding are likely APC members. Those who are suppose to cook the food majority of them are likely to be APC members and they are going to reduce the quality of that food and divert the rest to their own pocket or use the money for something else. We don’t have a trusted database that can be effective to monitor the scheme".

This subjective remark by the renown political scientist (Michael Oduguwa) and Emeritus President of the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS) OOU- Chapter seem to have been supported by another political scientist from OOU, an emeritus Honourable, Mr. Erioluwa Akintola.

In the words of Mr. Akintola "the decision is  untimely; what we need is reduction in price of fuel, reduction of the price of goods, intervention into the exchange rate". "Honestly, all their decisions are mostly centered on what can make embezzlement easy for them. After feeding the children, what happens to the other poor citizenry?" he asked. "feeding programme that won't even circulate" he swiftly remarked.

Mr. Isaiah O. Aladesanwa gave his insight into the discussion by saying "the policy is a good one, timely and logical. Going practical, I know of a school, Loyola Jesuit Nursery & Primary School, Abuja, a private school owned by the Jesuit order, who are in the business of feeding their students two times daily, by which these students are day students, and more importantly Children.

"My only prayer is that the program be handled by someone who is fit, capable and have the love of children at heart, so as to not divert the funds meant for the program to vested interest pockets. Tinubu has done well in this regards, hence appreciated for continuing the policy of his predecessor in the person of Muhammadu Buhari", Isaiah Aladesanwa concluded.

Policies can be changed or reformed, but that is only possible when it has been tested to a fault. Will the postulations/assertions by these two remarkable political scientists be justifiable at the end? or will the decision of the government achieve it desire objectives as against these assertions? If the postulations happen to real, will the government be sensitive enough to scrap or reform the policy? These are questions for another day.

Majekodunmi David writes from Owo, Ondo State. He can be reached through e-mail:  majekodunmidavid21@gmail.com