The president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu on Friday urged governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress to prioritise the return of children to school by increasing investments in the school feeding programme.
“The way to promote education is to get all governors, including the opposition governors, involved in the school-feeding programme. Please, take it seriously,” Tinubu said when he received members of the Progressive Governors Forum at the State House in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu asked the officials to design and implement policies that prioritise all Nigerians and to always consider the national interest above political affiliations.
The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu to APC Governors: Let us work for the good of all Nigerians.’
Tinubu’s call came hours apart from the suspension of all administered Social Investment Programmes by the National Social Investment Programme Agency which also includes the school-feeding programme.
“All four programmes administered by NSIPA, viz; N- Power Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and Home Grown School Feeding Programme have been suspended for a period of six weeks in the first instance,” a statement signed on Friday by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, read.
Imohiosen said the President’s decision was in view of the “ongoing investigation of alleged malfeasance in the management of the agency and its programmes.”
He argued that development policies would only find full relevance in people’s lives when there is inclusivity, ownership, and sustainability.
The Nigerian leader described divisiveness as one of the biggest challenges the nation faces.
Therefore, he said the governing party must work towards healing and unifying the country by ensuring a collective national vision and channelling energy and resources into nation-building.
“You can convert people. You can appeal to people to come to your side,’’ he stated.
He reasoned that Nigeria is too blessed with human, natural, and material resources to struggle with a dearth of quality infrastructure, education, and world-class health facilities.
Consequently, the entire financial system of the country would be re-engineered for inclusivity, effectiveness, and efficiency, he affirmed.
“We have no reason to be poor. Looking back on where we are coming from, where we have been, why we are facing infrastructural decay, a lack of quality and comprehensive education, as well as a lack of health facilities. We are not a cursed country, but blessed,’’ the President said.
President Tinubu asked the governors to come up with a framework that would make the school-feeding programme more comprehensive and successful across all states of the federation, taking into consideration the peculiarities of each locality, but working towards having all children in school.
“We have children of school age who are out of school…We should not measure the children as statistics.
“We should measure their return to classrooms as our achievement. We should see economic growth in terms of value and empowerment.
“We should set up a committee to look into the methods. I am ready to invest in school feeding,” the President said.
He noted that the school feeding programme would encourage more agricultural investments, particularly in livestock farming and dairy.
Tinubu cited a meeting with the Committee on Livestock Reforms which, on September 14, 2023, presented a proposal to establish a ministry of livestock as part of efforts to curb herders-farmers clashes and modernise livestock production in the country.
He said the former Kano State Governor and APC Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, had already worked on a proposal that would be shared for input and implementation.
President Tinubu equally congratulated the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, for restoring irrigation systems that provide water for the year-long cultivation of crops.
He also commiserated with the Governor over the loss of his media aide, Isa Gusau.
On security, the President said the FG is considering the deployment of forest guards with better training, modern technological gadgets and weapons to strengthen security.
He added that the solid mineral and marine economic sectors will also be secured by special police.
“We have a big marine economy, and I do not see why we should not have the marine police.
“We will have the same in solid minerals to keep the scavengers away. I am ready to invest in security.
“We will buy our minerals and keep them in reserves, especially gold, which will be effective in our foreign exchange reserve,’’ the President told the governors.
The Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, thanked the President for involving governors in the design and implementation of policies, as well as for intervening with financial support in the states.
“We will continue to support you as your able ambassadors, willing ambassadors, and capable ambassadors,’’ Governor Uzodimma said.
(PUNCH)
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