Bauchi State House of Assembly has resolved to thoroughly investigate expenditure of over N1b on food and nutrition for children, yet the rate of malnourished children in the state keeps increasing.
Data from Alive and Thrive shows that 64.9 percent of under-five children in Bauchi are stunted; 48.5 percent are underweight and 13.2 percent of newborn babies in the state are born with a low weight.
The lawmakers reached a consensus to probe the spending during a 2-day advocacy and sensitization meeting on the need to enhance adequate funding of nutrition activities for children.
The meeting was organised by the State Committee on Food and Nutrition, Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination with support by UNICEF, organized on adequate budget Appropriation for nutrition interactions.
Led by the Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, the lawmakers frowned at the report that the release of funds was almost 100 percent in previous years, yet no significant improvements in the number of malnourished children.
Suleiman expressed surprise by the report of budget allocation for nutrition wondering what then is the problem leading to the increase in many malnourished children in the state.
“This is worrisome, something is wrong somewhere. Honourable Members, with your permission, I want to suggest that the House Committee on Food and Nutrition embark on an oversight function to find out what went wrong,” he said.
All the 31 Members of the House at the meeting unanimously agreed and directed the Committee on Food and Nutrition to dig deep to find the missing link.
