New BGN Chief Sudaryono Vows Immediate Work on Free Nutritious Meals Programme

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Sudaryono, the new head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), has stated that he will get straight to work to ensure the success of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme, following his inauguration by President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

“We’re going to sort this out (the MBG programme). We’re getting straight to work, going straight to the office, straight into meetings,” he said at the BGN office in Central Jakarta.

Sudaryono arrived at the BGN office at around 4.50pm local time after taking the oath of office at the State Palace. He was welcomed by Deputy Head of BGN Agustina Arumsari, Deputy Head of BGN Trenggono, and other BGN officials.

President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated Sudaryono as head of BGN at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon.

He was installed as the new head of BGN as stipulated in Presidential Decree (Keppres) Number 78P of 2026 concerning the Dismissal and Appointment of the Head of BGN, which was signed by President Prabowo on 22 July 2026.

Sudaryono thus officially replaces Nanik Sudaryati Deyang, who announced her resignation as head of BGN on Wednesday morning.

At the inauguration ceremony, President Prabowo personally led the oath-taking proceedings.

“That I will be loyal to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and will carry out all laws and regulations as faithfully as possible in devoted service to my nation and country,” read the oath of office recited by Sudaryono, guided by President Prabowo.

Sudaryono, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, revealed that his appointment as head of BGN, replacing Nanik who resigned on health grounds, was only confirmed on Wednesday morning.

Sudaryono, who arrived with his family at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, said that on Tuesday evening (21 July) he had been contacted by Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi regarding the possibility of being appointed to replace Nanik.

“Then this morning I received a call from the Cabinet Secretary, Mr Teddy (Indra Wijaya), confirming that today I would be officially inaugurated to replace Mrs Nanik. Once again, she resigned for health reasons, and we pray that Mrs Nanik recovers quickly, gets well and healthy again,” said Sudaryono before the inauguration.

Responding to reports that he had been groomed since early July to fill the position, Sudaryono denied them.