Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 30th September, 2023

Good morning Nigeria, Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 30th, September 2023.

Fee Hike: Lest 50% Of Undergraduates Abandon Their Education

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, is not one given to garrulity, neither is he the type that will make some outlandish claims just to hug the limelight. It is on this score that Nigeria must accord due attention to his recent warning that up to 50 percent of students in the country’s public universities may drop out of school within the next two years if the Nigerian government doesn’t stop the arbitrary hike in university fees.

The union leader, while appearing in a national television programme, said, “If nothing is done about these heavy fees being introduced by schools all over the country, in the next two or three years, more than 40 to 50 percent of these children who are in school today will drop out.” More troubling is Osodeke’s warning that these undergraduate dropouts would end up as willing tools in the hands of those who want to make the “country ungovernable”. This will no doubt add to the intractable security challenges the country is currently faced with.

At the outset of the new academic year, various universities in the country hiked their fees by 100 to 200 percent. They blamed the development on poor government funding of tertiary education and rising inflation in the country, which is over 22 percent. For instance, the Federal University, Dutse, announced a 200 percent hike in its fees. It said, however, that payments can be made in two installments. From the old fees of N37,000, returning students were required to pay N97,000 plus other sundry charges.

Indefinite Strike: FG Invites NLC, TUC To Emergency Meeting

The Federal Government on Friday invited the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to an emergency meeting.

Naija News understands that the meeting was fixed by the Federal Government to avert the planned nationwide strike on October 3.

The unions had announced that workers would proceed on indefinite strike over the government’s failure to provide palliatives to cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy on petrol.

Among other things, the NLC and the TUC are asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.

Delta Tribunal Upholds Sheriff Oborevwori’s Victory, Dismisses Petition By Omo-Agege

The Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Friday, affirmed the victory of Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected Governor of Delta State.

The tribunal in affirming Oborevwori’s victory at the polls also dismissed the petition filed by former Deputy President of the Senate, and candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Ovie Omo-Agege.

The tribunal judges led by Justice C.H Ahuchaogu ruled that the petition filed by Omo-Agege contained unsubstantiated allegations, adding that his case was based on pure speculations.

Delivering the tribunal’s verdict in a four-jour judgement, Justice Ahuchaogu, held that the petitioner failed to prove his case of substantial noncompliance with the Electoral Act against Governor Oborevwori (second respondent).

Update On Tinubu’s Minister Purportedly Poisoned Emerges

The Ministry of Tourism has debunked the reports alleging the Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, was poisoned and rushed to the hospital.

According to Peoples Gazette, the Minister was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting poisoning symptoms.

Family sources allegedly disclosed that Lola had spent four days at the facility as of Friday morning.

The specifics of what substance she ingested and how could not be immediately established as sources disclosed that she has been on a machine to aid her breathing.

Supreme Court Recognises Abure’s LP Governorship Candidate In Imo

The Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed Senator Athan Achonu as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the November 11 election in Imo State.

Naija News understands that an aggrieved aspirant in LP’s primary, Basil Maduka had objected to Achonu’s candidature at both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal but the apex court dismissed the case on Thursday.

The case was thrown out for lack of locus standi.

A panel of five justices, led by Justice Iyang Okoro, also chided the appellant for abusing the court process and wasting the time of the courts.

Retired Army Major-General Ambushed, Kidnapped In Imo

Gunmen have abducted a retired high-ranking military officer, Maj Gen. RC Duru (rtd), in the Orji General area, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was gathered that the retired Major General was abducted last weekend by unknown kidnappers and he is still in the captivity of his abductors.

According to SaharaReporters, the Major-General was driving himself in a black Mercedes Benz ML jeep when the gunmen ambushed and kidnapped him.

You Should Resign, Save Nigeria From Embarrassment — NADECO Slams Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been advised by the United States chapter of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to resign and save the country from embarrassment.

Naija News reports that the group gave the advice in a statement issued on Monday, September 25, 2023, while reacting to the controversy surrounding the academic records of the President.

NADECO stated that the controversy has caused the Chicago State University to find itself on the precipice of disrepute, teetering on the brink of losing international credibility and accreditation.

The group also condemned the present socio-economic challenges that Tinubu’s government’s failed policies brought upon Nigerians, asking him to resign and save the country from irreprehensible damage.

Tinubu’s Minister Allegedly Poisoned, Battles For Life

The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, has reportedly been hospitalised in Abuja after allegedly suffering acute poisoning of unknown origins.

According to Peoples Gazette, her family members fear time was running against their efforts to save her life.

The publication claimed that the Minister was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of her poisoning.

Family sources allegedly disclosed that Lola had spent four days at the facility as of Friday morning.

The specifics of what substance she ingested and how could not be immediately established as sources disclosed that she has been on a machine to aid her breathing.

However, it was alleged that the family of the Minister and the Ministry are at loggerheads over where she should be treated.

Tribunal Sacks Plateau Assembly Speaker, Sule

The Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Moses Sule has been sacked by the election petition tribunal sitting in Jos, the state capital.

Naija News learnt that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, was sacked alongside the member representing Jos North West constituency in the assembly, Danjuma Azi.

The tribunal, however, declared the former majority leader of the house, Hon. Naanlong Daniel and Hon. Mark Na’ah, all of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as winners of the March 18 election.

The petitioner had challenged the sponsorship of the Sule and Azi on the grounds that the PDP was not qualified to participate in the election for lack of party structure.

Court Grants Aiyedatiwa Permission To Paste Processes On Ondo Assembly Wall, Gates

The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been granted permission to serve the state House of the Assembly processes filed in a suit against the Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Clerk.

Naija News understands that the Akure High Court of Ondo State gave this directive on Thursday, September 28.

Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay gave the order that all processes filed in the suit be served on the House of Assembly by posting on the front side wall/fence or entrance gate or any conspicuous area of the Ondo State House of Assembly Complex, Alagbaka, Akure, as well as on the notice board of the High Court of Justice, Akure, Ondo State.

The directive was a sequel to the alleged rejection of the Court’s processes.

The Ondo Assembly on September 25, 2023, prevented the court bailiff of the Akure High Court from gaining entrance into the premises of the Assembly to serve the court processes

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.