NLC demands immediate release of councils’ allocations

The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, described the recent claim by Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration of spending N32 million daily on the school feeding programme as a hoax.

The party, in a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, contended that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration of Adeleke was being economical with the truth on the implementation of the feeding programme for pupils in public schools.

It would be recalled that the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, had on July 3, 2025, in a statement, described the school feeding programme as a major driver of the grassroots economy, just as he disclosed the government’s plan to hold a conference in Abuja, themed: “Sustainability of “O Meal for Improved Nutrition in Osun State.”

However, while countering the claim of the state government, the APC said that no public school pupil was enjoying free meals in the state. It said: “A free meal programme is supposed to be a public activity which could not be effected under the table without the express knowledge of all and sundry in the state. Currently, there is no school in the state where the state government is offering any free meal.

“We appeal to the administration to stop using lies and subterfuge to run the government in the interest of the corporate image of the state.”

MEANWHILE, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the unconditional and immediate release of all withheld council allocations to the lawfully elected governments in Osun State.

The body also asked the attorney-general to retract all “unlawful directives” to federal financial institutions and cease further politicisation of local council autonomy.

This was contained in a communique issued after the meeting of the NLC’s National Administrative Council (NAC) and the Central Working Committee held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Congress, in the communique signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, and the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, condemned the partisan intervention, saying it had undermined grassroots governance, deprived workers of pay, and sabotaged key services, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

The NLC, however, warned that failure to comply in a fair amount of time would prompt action to defend workers’ rights and enforce the law.