Osun to stop free feeding of schoolchildren in the state

The incumbent Governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola has set up a committee of nine, to review its policy of free feeding of primary school pupils in the state.

Punch newspaper reports that the nine-member  committee which comprises permanent secretaries in the state and a level 17 officer, may also recommend that parents be made to pay a little levy for each  child in   school

A source in the government circles claimed that labour leaders in the state recommended the review of the free feeding policy alongside others to save money for payment of salaries of civil servants and to carry out developmental projects.

The Aregbesola government has for almost six months been unable to pay workers salaries, a development it blames on dwindling allocation from the Federal Government.

Deputy Governor Titi Laoye-Tomori had said last year that the “ school feeding meals cost government of the State of Osun N3.6bn annually.”

In December 2014, the All Progressives Congress in the state said the allocation accruing to the state had fallen from N3.8bn per month to N1.3bn.

Following agitations by civil servants over the non-payment of their salaries, Aregbesola   challenged labour leaders in the state to suggest how his administration could generate more funds to meet its obligations.

The labour leaders consequently came up with a report containing   recommendations for the review of the policies.