President Bola Tinubu has announced that the 2024 budget includes a provision of N100 billion for school feeding programs, emphasizing the goal of boosting school attendance and addressing the issue of out-of-school children.
The announcement was made during the signing of the 2024 appropriation bill into law at the State House in Abuja.
Tinubu underscored the significance of the allocation, stating, “One of the priority areas of the bill we just passed is the N100 billion provision for the feeding of school children. I believe that is a stimulant that will encourage school enrolment and also address malnutrition among school children.”
Initiated in December, the school feeding program has been reinstated with oversight shifted from the Humanitarian Ministry to the Education Ministry.
The program, previously discontinued during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, aims not only to provide nutritious meals but also to enhance attendance and enrich the learning experience for students.
Tinubu expressed plans for collaboration with local governments at sub-national levels to implement an all-inclusive program. He emphasized the broader objectives of the budget, named “Renewed Hope,” which focuses on reducing recurrent expenditure while increasing capital expenditure.
The president stated, “the budget is anchored on reducing the deficit and increasing capital expenditure, particularly in our priority areas. The approved 2024 budget achieved both objectives. It contains a good increase in the capital side, a reduction in recurrent expenditure. And it brought down the deficit from 6.11% to 3.88%.”
