The Osun State Government is considering a review of its policy of free feeding of primary school pupils in the state. Investigation by our correspondent revealed on Thursday that Governor Rauf Aregbesola had set up a committee to work out how to implement the review of this policy. The nine-member committee, which is also working on the review of the state’s free health programme for children and the elderly, may recommend that parents be made to pay a little levy for each child in school. A source in the government circle, told our correspondent that labour leaders in the state recommended the review of the free feeding policy alongside others to save money for payment of salaries of civil servants and to carry out developmental projects. The Aregbesola government has, for almost six months, been unable to pay workers salaries, a development it blames on receeding allocation from the Federal Government. Deputy Governor, Titi Laoye-Tomori, had said last year that the “school feeding meals cost government of the State of Osun N3.6bn annually.” In December 2014, the All Progressives Congress in the state said the allocation accruing to the state had fallen from N3.8bn per month to N1.3bn.
Following agitations by civil servants over the non-payment of their salaries, Aregbesola challenged labour leaders in the state to suggest how his administration could generate more funds to meet its obligations. The labour leaders consequently came up with a report containing recommendations for the review of the policies after interactive sessions with workers. In the report, they recommended the introduction of Parent/Teacher Association levy to be paid by every primary and secondary school pupil. The labour leaders also recommended that the governor should prioritise capital projects and complete them in phases. In likewise vein, The union leaders advised the government to stop illegal mining of solid mineral resources such as gold and tantalite in the state. The report added, “We know for sure that the area of political appointment is Mr. governor’s constituency. But because of the economic situation we find ourselves now, the truth must be told. The appointment of chains of political appointees, e.g, special advisers, senior special assistants, personal assistants and all other political appointments should be suspended for now. When contact was made, the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Governor’s office, Semiu Okanlawon, said he had not seen the report. He however confirmed that the state government asked labour to advise it on how to generate income from other sources apart from federal allocation.
