Federal Government to Reform School Feeding Mothers to Receive 15,000 Monthly Conditional Cash Transfers

Federal Government to Reform School Feeding Mothers to Receive ₦15,000 Monthly Conditional Cash Transfers

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its plan to revolutionize the National School Feeding Programme by transitioning to a model that pays mothers directly through a conditional cash transfer system. Under this new framework, the government estimates providing support of approximately ₦15,000 per child monthly to ensure students are well-fed and remain in the classroom.

Speaking during a recent interview on Channels Television, the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, explained that the government decided to move away from the previous centralized model because it failed to deliver sustainable value despite significant budgetary allocations.

“In the past, the government was responsible for buying food, employing thousands of cooks, and managing complex logistics,” Alausa stated. “Despite spending trillions of naira over the years, the outcomes did not justify the investment because the approach was highly susceptible to waste, logistical bottlenecks, and corruption.”

A Shift Toward Social Protection

Dr. Alausa emphasized that the redesigned model treats school feeding as a strategic social protection initiative rather than a mere catering exercise. By utilizing technology to bypass intermediaries, the government aims to empower the primary caregivers—mothers—to take charge of their children’s nutrition.

“What we are doing now is redesigning the system using digital infrastructure,” the Minister explained. “Instead of the government managing kitchens, we will pay mothers directly to prepare nutritious meals for their children. This is a conditional cash transfer, not a catering contract.”

The monthly stipend was calculated based on the prevailing cost of nutritious food. “We estimated the cost per child at roughly ₦400 to ₦450 per school day,” Alausa noted. “When multiplied by the average number of school days in a month, it totals approximately ₦15,000, which will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of verified mothers.”

Leveraging Technology to Curb Corruption

The Minister underscored that technology is the cornerstone of this reform, serving as a primary tool to eliminate “ghost” beneficiaries and leakages. Payments will not be automatic; they will be strictly tied to verified school attendance and biometric data.

“Technology is the enemy of corruption,” Alausa asserted. “By linking payments to daily attendance captured digitally, we ensure transparency. Teachers will play a crucial role in confirming student presence, and this data will be uploaded for monthly assessment. By the first day of the following month, the system will automatically identify who qualifies for payment based on their child’s attendance record.”

Economic Empowerment and Local Impact

Beyond education, this reform is expected to trigger a significant “bottom-up” economic ripple effect. By placing funds directly in the hands of millions of mothers, the government is effectively stimulating local micro-economies. These caregivers will source ingredients from community markets, ensuring that the ₦15,000 stipend circulates within the immediate environment of the school, supporting local farmers and small-scale traders.

Furthermore, the Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to ensure that the National Identity Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) are utilized to verify every recipient. This ensures a leak-proof ecosystem where funds reach the intended households without interference.

Phased Implementation Strategy

The Minister clarified that this is a planned, systemic rollout rather than a completed nationwide program. The government intends to implement the strategy in phases, beginning with pilot programs in states with the highest rates of out-of-school children. This methodical approach will allow the government to test the resilience of the digital infrastructure and make real-time adjustments based on community feedback.

“This is a system we are building from the ground up, rooted in technology and the principles of social protection,” Alausa concluded. The ultimate goal is to increase school enrollment, reduce the number of out-of-school children, and improve the overall cognitive and physical development of Nigerian students through consistent, high-quality nutrition.