The Jigawa State Government has issued a stern warning to principals of boarding schools across the state against sabotaging the students’ feeding programme, vowing decisive action against anyone found undermining the initiative.
The warning follows the dismissal and suspension of several school feeding contractors on January 7 over allegations of fraud, supply of substandard food items, and inflation of student population figures in some boarding schools. The action was taken after complaints from parents and members of the public, as well as unannounced inspections conducted by officials of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties.
The latest warning was issued on Monday during a follow-up inspection at the Girls Model Boarding School, Kudai, in Dutse, the state capital. The inspection team was led by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties, Auwal Sankara, and was aimed at assessing compliance with new quality standards introduced after the suspension of erring contractors.
During the visit, Sankara announced the immediate suspension of the school’s principal following the discovery of a 30 per cent inflation in the student headcount during a previous audit. He disclosed that the vice-principal had been appointed as acting principal, pending the posting of a substantive replacement.
Despite the disciplinary action, the commissioner noted a significant improvement in the quality of meals served to students. He confirmed that nutritious and high-quality food had replaced meals previously considered unfit, including low-grade staples supplied before the government’s intervention.
“Our visit today proves that we are not just making temporary changes; we are instituting a permanent culture of excellence,” Sankara said.
He stressed that the ministry remains committed to protecting the integrity of Governor Umar Namadi’s 12-point development agenda, warning that any school administrator or contractor caught sabotaging the feeding programme would be treated as an enemy of the state’s progress.
Sankara further urged parents, students, and community members to remain vigilant and promptly report any lapses, assuring that unannounced inspections would continue across the state to safeguard the welfare of students.
Leave a comment