Prabowo Ensures Free Nutritious Meal Programme Continues Despite Dismissal of National Nutrition Agency Head, Palace: Must Not Be Disrupted

The government has ensured that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme will continue to operate normally despite President Prabowo Subianto’s total reshuffle of the leadership ranks within the National Nutrition Agency (BGN). This affirmation was made by the Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, following the announcement of the dismissal of Dadan Hindayana from his position as Head of the BGN, alongside two deputy heads, Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus and Sony Sanjaya.

As replacements, President Prabowo has appointed Nanik S. Deyang as the new Head of the BGN, accompanied by Agustina Arum Sari and Major General TNI Trenggono as deputy heads. “We also wish to convey that the government will continue to ensure that throughout the ongoing evaluation process, all BGN programmes continue to function as intended in providing services to the community,” said Prasetyo Hadi during a press conference at the Cabinet Meeting Room, Merdeka Palace, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.

The Palace has requested that all work units remain focused, asserting that the change in leadership must not affect public services or the field implementation of the free nutritious meal programme. Consequently, the government has urged all units within the BGN environment to continue performing their respective duties to the maximum extent.

According to the government, the continuity of the MBG programme is vital as it remains one of the primary priorities of the Prabowo-Gibran administration. The programme is not only focused on meeting the nutritional needs of the population but also serves as a key component of the national human resource development strategy.

The leadership change was described as a move to strengthen programme governance and implementation effectiveness, rather than a reduction in the government’s commitment to the MBG. “The government reiterates once again that this change in leadership will not disrupt our commitment to executing the MBG programme carried out by the BGN,” Prasetyo stated. He expressed hope that the new leadership under Nanik S. Deyang would strengthen programme implementation so that its benefits can be felt more widely by the public, serving as an investment in national education and human resources.