By Jibrin Hussaini Kundum, Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has commenced distribution of food palliative to boarding and Integrated Qur’anic Tsangaya Schools across the state.

The State Commissioner for Education Dr Jamila Ɗahiru who spoke during the distribution exercise at Government Girls College Bauchi said the food commodities were provided by the State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as part of measures to cushion the economic hardship bedeviling the country.

Dr Jamila, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Alhaji Ali Babayo, said the present administration acknowledged the global economic downturn and deemed it fit to extend the allocation of the food palliative to boarding schools.

While appreciating Governor Bala Mohammed for the gesture, the commissioner commended Security Agencies especially the EFCC for working to ensure that the commodities were delivered safely without diversion.

Earlier, the Director School Services in the ministry Malama Fatima Musa who said the allocations were done based on students’ population across the benefitting schools, called on the principals to ensure judicious utilisation of the items.

Speaking on behalf of the school managers, the State President All Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Comrade Rabi’u Shehu, said the food palliative to schools is timely, and assured to utilize the items to the benefit of the students.

The 28 benefitting schools with a cumulative student population of 8,261 were allocated 312 bags of sorghum, 275 bags of maize and 115 bags of millet.