The State Commissioner of Education, Dr Ali Haruna Makoda, disclosed that the administration of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf would continue to ensure prompt payment of contractors that supply foodstuff to the 39 boarding schools in the state.
This was just as he assured that “whenever the schools’ food supply contractors are verified, the government would make sure they receive their payment on due course without any delay.”
However, Dr Haruna gave the assurance while addressing principals of boarding schools and contractors of foodstuff during an interactive meeting held at the Ministry Conference Hall.
Ali Haruna Makoda noted that with the coming of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf as Governor, many achievements had been recorded in terms of the schools’ feeding programme in the state.
Dr Makoda explained that one of the greatest achievements recorded by the administration in that regard was the total upgrade of the quality and quantity of food supplied to boarding schools.
“Based on the report I have, His Excellency has already given approval for the review of the food price rate from N787.8 to N1,430.88, which represents an increase of food price given to students by 82% and that improves the entire system of the feeding programme.”
This was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Ministry of Education, Kano State, Alhaji Balarabe Abdullahi Kiru, a copy made available to the press on Friday in Kano.
He, however, stated that “even from what I heard from the principals and contractors, it shows to me that the Governor has brought about a significant transformation in the schools’ feeding programme.”
Dr Makoda therefore urged the contractors to work diligently in meeting the contract agreement, assuring that his office will remain committed to ensuring the speedy processing of all requests sent by the contractors.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the schools’ feeding programme, Alhaji Umar Musa Gama, attributed the successes recorded to the commitment of Governor Yusuf to overhaul the education sector, citing that on two different occasions, the Governor reviewed the price of foodstuff, which he described as commendable.
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Bashir Baffa Muhammad, said the meeting was organised to critically review the 2023/2024 schools’ feeding programme and offer advice on how best to improve the system for the 2024/2025 feeding programme.
He revealed that despite the challenges of acute inflation of foodstuff prices, the Kano State Government had responded positively to the request of contractors by reviewing the price of foodstuff.
While speaking on behalf of the contractors, Alhaji Uba Magayaki commended the Governor for setting up what he called a solid foundation aimed at improving the feeding programme.
He assured the Commissioner of the contractors’ commitment to supplying the best qualitative food to schools as contained in the contract agreement.
The State Ministry of Education, which comprises seven agencies, has 39 boarding schools, out of which 30 are for boys while nine are for girls.
