Adeleke renews commitment to school feeding programme, seeks partnerships
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, protested in Abuja, calling on the Federal Government to cease financial allocations to individuals illegally occupying local council positions in Osun State under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The protest march kicked off at the Unity Fountain and proceeded to the offices of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Finance, where letters were presented demanding strict adherence to court judgments and the rule of law.

National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, who addressed journalists during the march, accused APC officials of flouting valid court judgments by unlawfully retaining control of local council secretariats in Osun State.

Onwubiko, who said that the protest, themed: ‘Presentation of Letters Demanding Local Government Autonomy and Adherence to the Rule of Law’ was aimed at reinforcing democratic values and pushing back against what HURIWA called “institutional lawlessness and political impunity, described the continued occupation of the offices by APC members as “a blatant violation of the constitution, the rule of law, and the democratic will of the people.”

HURIWA, therefore, called on the Minister of Finance to collaborate closely with the Minister of Justice in enforcing the financial consequences of the court rulings and restoring legitimacy to local governance in Osun State.

MEANWHILE, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, yesterday, renewed the government’s commitment to enhancing the O-Meal School Feeding programme, which was birthed in 2006.

The governor, who also called on stakeholders and partners for support, reiterated the need to continuously improve the nutritional health status of school pupils in the state.

Adeleke spoke during the stakeholders’ conference in Abuja, themed “Sustainability of O-Meal for Improved Children Nutrition in Osun State Homegrown School Funding Programme.”

The programme, tagged “AUDA-NEPAD African Union Development Agency,” was in partnership with the Osun State government.

Adeleke, therefore, called on development partners, donor agencies, and philanthropists to partner with the state government in building a smarter Osun pupil.