'N70m spent weekly on feeding primary school pupils' - Governor

September 14, 2016 7:02 PM

The acting governor of Kano state, Mr Hafiz Abubakar has revealed the overhead expenditure of the state in taking care of primary school pupils.

Primary school pupils

According to the Kano State government, N70 million is spent weekly on the feeding for public primary school pupils in the state.

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The acting governor of the state, Hafiz Abubakar, made the disclosure today, September 14, Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sunusi II, on the emir’s traditional Sallah homage to Government House, Kano.

Mr Hafiz revealed that the expenditure is not part of the N68 million the government reportedly spends weekly on its boarding schools.

He noted that the feeding program is an arrangement which involves the state, local governments and host communities of these schools.

However, Mr Hafiz lamented the failure of the local governments and host communities to come up with their parts of the contribution causing the costs to fall on the state government.

Mr Hafiz added that the state government has been releasing roughly N700million per month to the local governments in a bid to ensure that they pay their workers’ salaries as well as meet up with running costs.

He also disclosed that the state pays N300million in form of scholarships to students studying in Nigeria and abroad.

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The state government reportedly has plans to recruit 1000 officers to compliment the house to house enforcement of sanitation in communities around the state which would also have its costs. He said that the state is also set to complete an independent power project this year.

In conclusion, Mr. Hafiz said that Kano has remained on of the few states in Nigeria not defaulting in salary payments, despite its numerous commitments.