The Jigawa State Government has suspended several contractors involved in the state’s school feeding programme after allegations of fraud and poor service delivery emerged. Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties, Hon. Auwal D. Sankara, said the suspensions followed an inspection that uncovered irregularities such as inflated student population figures, the supply of substandard food items, and incomplete deliveries to boarding schools.
The inspection, carried out at several schools in the Dutse local government area, revealed significant discrepancies between official records and actual enrolments. At Girls Model Boarding School, Kudai, official records listed 1,008 students, but a physical head count counted only 681. The commissioner also noted that the food supplied to students was unsafe, prompting the immediate suspension of contractor Jibrin Maifata.
At Government Commercial Secondary School, Dutse, a consignment of rice was rejected because of its poor quality. In response, the commissioner dismissed Alhaji Sule Zai, Chairman of the School Feeding Contractors. Additionally, three contractors—Kamalu Sulaiman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abanderi, and Alhaji Umaru Chamo—were suspended at the School for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Dutse, for delivering incomplete food supplies.
The commissioner emphasized that these actions align with Governor Umar A. Namadi’s 12‑Point Agenda, which stresses transparency and accountability in public programmes. He warned that anyone diverting resources meant for student feeding and welfare would face prosecution. Inspections will continue across the state to ensure value for public funds and adherence to standards in all social intervention programmes.
The government’s decisive move addresses the challenges plaguing the school feeding programme, a vital component of its efforts to improve education and nutrition for students. By targeting contractors engaged in fraudulent activities, Jigawa demonstrates its commitment to transparency and accountability, while ongoing inspections aim to identify areas for improvement and ensure effective implementation for the benefit of the intended beneficiaries—students.
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