The federal government has proposed to spend N100bn on the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Daily Trust reports.

Analysis of the 2025 budget showed the programme is under the Service Wide Vote (SVW) and domiciled in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

It would be recalled that the feeding programme was suspended on January 12, after the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSIPA Halima Shehu, was suspended over alleged financial malfeasance.

However, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, had in August disclosed plans to relaunch the programme.

Christmas message by Governor Uba Sani
Delays, overcrowding mar free train ride
Edun, who assured that the government would provide sufficient resources to support and sustain educational programmes nationwide, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to enhancing education through a series of initiatives to grant access to quality education.

Edun said, “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.”

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…To settle MDAs electricity debt with N15bn

The total expenditure for the SWV was increased to N6.7tr from the 4.4tr it received in 2024 among which is the settlement of MDAs electricity bills with N15bn.

Daily Trust reports that the Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) had claimed that ministries, departments, and agencies including the military owe it N42bn.

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This amount is different from that of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) that earlier in the year threatened to disconnect electricity in the Presidential Villa and 86 federal government’s ministries departments and agencies over N47.1bn outstanding debts as of December 2023.

The SWV also had a N2.3bn provision for entitlements of former presidents/heads of state and vice presidents/chiefs of general staff.

While there is another allocation of N1bn for severance benefits to retired heads of government agencies and parastatals.

Similarly, there is an allocation of N5bn for International sporting competitions and N41.2bn for contribution to international organisations.

Daily Trust

The Rumfa College Old Boys Association (RUMFOBA) Class ’94 marked its 30th anniversary in Kano on Thursday, with a call to the Kano state government to establish database centres in each community.

These centres, to be led by village heads, would provide vital data on households across the state, enabling informed decision-making, planning, and project implementation.¹

Chairman of RUMFOBA Class ’94, Engineer Professor Ibrahim Sani Madugu, emphasized the importance of these database centres in ensuring security, supporting community development, and promoting small-scale industries and trades.

The class chapter has undertaken two major projects to support their alma mater: ensuring water availability in major areas and installing a CCTV surveillance system.

Following consultations with the Principal, additional projects were identified, including:

– _Solar-Based Security Lights_: for vulnerable areas such as the NCC computer centre and laboratories
– _Carpets for School Mosques_
– _Replacement of Dead Solar Batteries_
– _Payment of Owed Allowances_ for security personnel

Engineer Madugu stressed the need for the Kano state government to leverage renewable energy sources, such as solar power, to address electricity challenges.

He commended the government’s efforts in establishing the Kano Hydro Electricity Development Company (KHEDCO) and power stations at Tiga and Karaye dams.

Madugu, who leads a research team on Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) at Kampala International University, highlighted the importance of addressing climate change threats and exploring innovative solutions.

During the anniversary celebration, three individuals were awarded for their commitment to supporting Rumfa College and the educational sector in Kano State: former Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar-mata, and another recipient.

Kano State Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar-mata, commended RUMFOBA’s dedication to education and advised the union to focus on successfully implementing single projects annually, while communicating other challenges to the state government for necessary attention.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has Dangote Refinery over the recent slashed in the fuel price, describing it as a timely economic relief for Nigerians.

Speaking with journalists , the Chairman, NLC Lagos Council, Comrade Funmi Sessi said Dangote Refinery has come at the right time.

She expressed optimism that the reduction would ease transportation costs, lower the prices of goods and services, and provide financial relief to citizens struggling with the high cost of living.

“This adjustment promises to offer much-needed relief for millions of Nigerians who have been grappling with high fuel prices and the rising cost of living.

“If not for Dangote refinery,  we believe that government will still be importing fuel.

“But now, Dangote is producing about 650,000 litres of  barrel per day, while both Port Harcourt refinery and the other refurbished one are producing about 210,000 litres of barrels per day. Which is not even up to half of what Dangote is producing.

“With this, Dangote has brought a healthy rivalry to the sector and we have started seeing reduction in the petroleum prices and even Dangote have started taking Petroleum to countries such as Ghana, Togo and other countries. What this means is that it will bring stability on our own currency. In this instance , we want to give it to Dangote. We also appreciate its timely intervention.

“Don’t also forget that the National Assembly is trying to bring out a bill that Nigerians should start domesticating our own currency. It so disheartening that our currency is no more strong, even in the West Africa region.

“So, government should encourage Dangote and more players coming in because this will allow healthy rivalry.

“We welcome this relief, which will help many Nigerians struggling due to the high cost of living, and we urge other stakeholders to emulate the Dangote Group’s example for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Sessi said.

On the proposed 2025 budget ,Comrade Sessi said if the government can be strict in it’s implementation, there is hope for the revival of the economy.

” With the budget , we can see that there is hope for Nigeria. Most especially if government can be strict in it’s implementations, there will will improvement in the security , food production and other areas,” She said.