The school feeding programme is yet to kick off, two weeks after school resumes.
The feeding programme which was launched for primary school pupils on January 19 by the governor of the state,Nasir El-Rufai, is yet to be activated since students returned from the long vacation.
Some cooks under the scheme have alleged that the delay in the resumption of the programme can be owed to the actions of some politicians who are trying to appoint cooks who will be partial to their allies.
However, the state government has explained that it is trying to expand the programme which would allow for enhancement in the quality of the meals and take into consideration the demand by more people to be included in the scheme.
A cook who spoke on the grounds of anonymity Told Premium Times that the programme had been running well before the schools went on vacation but that since the schools reopened, the government is yet to reach out to them to begin preparing meals for the kids.
“We are hearing that some people who are close to the seat of power are trying to hijack the process by appointing their own relations to be cooking for the school children.
“When the programme began last year, we were picked by some government officials who identified us because we are close to the school premises. They will access you, take your phone number, passport and fill some forms before you will be recruited,” she said.
She also revealed that the government paid the cooks commission and not salary.
“What we are given to use in cooking is the only money that will be given to you. After you have purchased what you need for the food, the balance is what you keep.
“When we started the state government used to give us N11, 000 per cook for 221 pupils. After some time they reduced the money to N8, 500 for 167 pupils.
“Although in my school, we have about 80 cooks who supply the food; 50 cooks for morning pupils and 30 cooks for afternoon pupils. The programme is arranged in such a way that every cook work once a week.
“I cook yam and stew every Monday for my school, and so do others. Every cook cooks once a week.”
According to the cook, the state government has requested that all cooks, old and new, were to collect new forms from the government House in Kaduna as the process needs to be reviewed.
She applauded Governor El-Rufai for not missing any of the payments as at when due, during the period the programme ran.
During an encounter with Premium Times, the spokesman for the governor, Samuel Aruwan, stated that the state government is very much committed to the School Feeding Programme and is presently working on enhancing the scheme as quick as possible.
The feeding programme which was launched for primary school pupils on January 19 by the governor of the state,Nasir El-Rufai, is yet to be activated since students returned from the long vacation.
Some cooks under the scheme have alleged that the delay in the resumption of the programme can be owed to the actions of some politicians who are trying to appoint cooks who will be partial to their allies.
However, the state government has explained that it is trying to expand the programme which would allow for enhancement in the quality of the meals and take into consideration the demand by more people to be included in the scheme.
A cook who spoke on the grounds of anonymity Told Premium Times that the programme had been running well before the schools went on vacation but that since the schools reopened, the government is yet to reach out to them to begin preparing meals for the kids.
“We are hearing that some people who are close to the seat of power are trying to hijack the process by appointing their own relations to be cooking for the school children.
“When the programme began last year, we were picked by some government officials who identified us because we are close to the school premises. They will access you, take your phone number, passport and fill some forms before you will be recruited,” she said.
She also revealed that the government paid the cooks commission and not salary.
“What we are given to use in cooking is the only money that will be given to you. After you have purchased what you need for the food, the balance is what you keep.
“When we started the state government used to give us N11, 000 per cook for 221 pupils. After some time they reduced the money to N8, 500 for 167 pupils.
“Although in my school, we have about 80 cooks who supply the food; 50 cooks for morning pupils and 30 cooks for afternoon pupils. The programme is arranged in such a way that every cook work once a week.
“I cook yam and stew every Monday for my school, and so do others. Every cook cooks once a week.”
According to the cook, the state government has requested that all cooks, old and new, were to collect new forms from the government House in Kaduna as the process needs to be reviewed.
She applauded Governor El-Rufai for not missing any of the payments as at when due, during the period the programme ran.
During an encounter with Premium Times, the spokesman for the governor, Samuel Aruwan, stated that the state government is very much committed to the School Feeding Programme and is presently working on enhancing the scheme as quick as possible.
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