The Bauchi State Government has sacked Food Monitors and Direct Feeding Committees in all boarding schools across the state over perceived shortage and poor quality of food given to students in boarding schools.
WikkiTimes reported that in September 2021, Bauchi converted about 35 boarding schools into day secondary schools for low student populations seeking admission into the schools coupled with the rising cost of feeding a few admitted students.
Also, in October 2019, the Bauchi State Government sacked the principal of General Hassan Usman Katsina Unity College and two other staff for underfeeding students. It was discovered that the sacked principal gave food meant to serve 350 students to 1,200 students.
Dr Jamila Dahiru, Commissioner for Education, disclosed this in a statement signed by the information office of the ministry, Jalaludeen Usman, and made available to reporters in Bauchi.
She said a lot of complaints were received over the deteriorating quality and quantity of food being served to students despite huge government spending on school feeding.
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Dr Dahiru explained that the committee is responsible for overseeing the supply and administration of food meant for students in boarding schools in Bauchi, emphasising the need for a unified policy to improve food monitoring and ensure transparency, expressing dissatisfaction with the current approach.
“The existing system to monitor and checkmate food activities to ensure transparency is not working. Therefore, all food monitors and the direct feeding committee are hereby dissolved with immediate effect,” she said.
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The Commissioner decried the lack of transparency and the provision of high-quality meals for students, arguing that food monitors have not been effectively fulfilling their duties.
Dr Dahiru added that “every day, the food quality and quantity are decreasing, which is unacceptable. We must be transparent in our activities and provide a working system for the betterment of students”.
She said going forward, the ministry will reevaluate the food suppliers to ensure that only those providing quality food supplies are retained.
Dahiru noted, “We are starting all over and the food suppliers will also be revisited to identify those who are delivering high-quality food supplies.”
