FG budgets ₦100bn for school feeding programme
The Federal Government has proposed a budget of ₦100 billion for the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) in its 2025 fiscal plan, aiming to tackle hunger and boost education nationwide.
This allocation, listed under the Service Wide Vote (SWV) and managed by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, underscores the government’s renewed commitment to improving access to quality education.
The NHGSFP, which had been suspended on January 12, 2024, following allegations of financial impropriety against Halima Shehu, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), is set to be relaunched. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, confirmed the revival plans in August, stressing the government’s dedication to enhancing educational programmes.
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Edun elaborated on the potential impact of the feeding programme, stating:
“Feeding children at school would not only improve their health and wellbeing but also incentivise them to remain in school, thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children.”
The Minister added that sufficient resources would be allocated to sustain educational reforms and initiatives aimed at ensuring every child has access to quality education.
In addition to the school feeding programme, the SWV allocation also includes ₦15 billion to settle electricity debts owed by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
This development follows prolonged disputes between federal agencies and electricity providers, including the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
As of December 2023, EKEDC claimed a debt of ₦42 billion, while AEDC threatened to disconnect electricity to 86 MDAs and the Presidential Villa over an outstanding ₦47.1 billion.
Other Allocations Under the SWV
The 2025 budget further details provisions for other critical areas, including:
₦2.3 billion for entitlements of former presidents, vice presidents, and chiefs of general staff.
₦1 billion for severance benefits of retired heads of government agencies and parastatals.
₦5 billion for international sporting competitions.
₦41.2 billion for Nigeria’s contributions to international organisations.
The federal government’s 2025 fiscal plan reflects a determined effort to balance pressing national issues, from reviving educational programmes to settling longstanding debts and meeting international obligations.
This renewed focus on education and financial accountability signals a commitment to fostering development and addressing the nation’s socio-economic challenges.
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