There was a mild drama at the popular Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, on Friday, following the strange discovery of a human private part by a hungry customer, who patronised a food vendor inside the market.

The shocking sight of the human part in her plate of soup, at GBO Plaza, in the market, resulted in pandamonium, as anxious traders and customers thronged the plaza to behold the strange alar’carte garnished with protruding human part and its accompanying delicacies steaming hot from a plate of soup.

The middle-aged woman, simply identified as Ebere, reportedly found strange meat inside the plate of food she bought from a food vendor.

It was learned that trouble started when Ebere, who sells household items opposite GBO Plaza, raised the alarm, while eating the food she bought from a vendor, and discovered that the meat in her plate had the semblance of a male child’s private part.

An eye witness, who spoke with Vanguard Metro at the scene, on Saturday, said; “I was here when Ebere was eating, yesterday, and found the meat that looks like a little child’s private part. We all took turns to examine it. It didn’t look like that of goat or a dog.

“It was when she raised alarm that other traders came closer and on proper scrutiny, it was concluded that the seemingly turgid but, small human flesh must be that of a child.”

Other witnesses said the argument raged for long until a verdict was unanimously passed that it was the private part of a human being and hell was let loose as they all started asking for the head of the food vendor.

It was gathered that the alarmed food vendor was loudly proclaiming her innocence saying that she bought the meat from her regular supplier in the market.

The sordid drama was so intense to the extent that some of the traders that claimed to be regular customers of the food vendor were throwing up publicly lamenting that they have been eating human flesh for long thinking that it was delicious meat.

Vanguard Metro gathered that the frenzy was such that traders thronged the plaza in their numbers to, not just identify the food vendor but, trace the meat seller and deliver instant justice on them.

The situation, which was about degenerating to a serious crisis was, however, doused by leaders of the market who called for caution and assured that they will investigate the issue and take decisive action.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer, Alaba International Market, Ezeani Theophilus told Vanguard Metro that the incident was still under investigation.

According to him, “The food vendor doesn’t have a restaurant, she is a local food vendor.
“We have called on the police and investigation is ongoing.

“The food vendor claimed she bought the meat from a meat seller who hawks around the market. We don’t want to escalate the issue so that the meat seller won’t find out and flee from the market.”

However, as at the time of going to press, not much has been heard about the result of their investigation but it was reliably gathered that the food vendor had disappeared from the market and nobody could say whether she was invited by the police or not.

On their part, the police said they are yet to receive such report and assured that once they get it, they will investigate the case thoroughly.

Amid the frustrations associated with the recent hike in the pump price of fuel to N617 per litre, the Chief Executive Officer of Emadeb Energy Service Limited, Debo Olujimi, said local refining of the product remains the only lasting solution to the price surge.

According to NAN, Olujimi disclosed this at the inaugural ceremony of its Ijegun Satellite Depot on Wednesday in Lagos.

Olujimi stated that the increase in the price of petrol will continue to harm Nigerians unless local refining of the product is encouraged.

He lamented the continued dependence on the US dollar for the importation of fuel products into the country.

“It is a known fact that the increase in the price of petrol has put significant pressure on Nigerians, which we all understand.

“The only way to address the ongoing challenges is for the government to encourage local refining,” he said.

Senate has urged employers of labour in the country to de-emphasise age requirements as a pre-condition for employment in Nigeria.

The senate resolution was a sequel to the consideration and adoption of a motion at plenary on Wednesday.

The motion titled “Age Requirement Pre-condition for Employment in Nigeria, Urgent Need for Intervention” was sponsored by Sen. Abba Moro (PDP- Benue).

Moro, in his debate, said age limit as a precondition for employment violates Chapter 4, section 42(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom from discrimination.

Moro said the provision of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) had defined employment discrimination in economic terms, as a violation of human rights that entails a waste of human talents with detrimental effects on productivity, and economic growth.

He said that it also generated socioeconomic inequalities that undermined social cohesion, solidarity and acted as a brake on the reduction of poverty.

He said it was pathetic for a graduate in Nigeria who could not get a job upon graduation and decided to go back to school with the hope that a higher qualification, vis-a-vis a second or Master’s Degree, could give him a better employment opportunity.

“It is ironic that a graduate in this country can serve in the National Youth Service Corps programme at age 30 but cannot be gainfully employed, thereafter on the fact that he/she is now above 30 years, a situation that is a flagrant breach of his fundamental rights.

“The circumstances described in the foregoing present the predicament of the Nigerian youth who has the requisite qualification, knowledge, and skills and is ready to work but disqualified or excluded on the sole and unjustifiable ground that he/she is above the age limit by reason of his/her birth.”

Moro said the sad situation had led many to commit age fraud by going all out to falsify their age to remain within the age limit of employability in the Nigerian Civil Service, and all other employers of labour in the country.

Senate, in its further resolution, urged the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, and other relevant agencies to restrict and discourage public and private employers from depriving millions of job seekers of employment opportunities merely for not meeting the age requirements.

It urged the ministry to immediately draw up policies that relate to equality of opportunity and treatment in access to employment at all levels. (NAN)

Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma has, again, openly apologised to the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and Nigerians.

Ejikeme, in her apology, requested that the board temper justice with mercy and reverse the three years ban imposed on her by JAMB.

She read the letter of apology before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged manipulation of UTME results by Miss Ejikeme Mmesom, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Recall that two weeks ago the House moved in support of a motion to investigate the said alleged manipulation of UTME results by Mmesoma.

Present at the Investigative hearing is the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and it management.

Details later…..

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.

The threat was connected to his failure to appear in court to explain the circumstances surrounding the $53m judgment debt arising from the Paris Club refund.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, however, said he was minded to exercise restraint in the proceeding to allow the ex-CBN boss to explain himself on the next adjourned date.

Emefiele’s counsel, Audu Anuga, SAN, told the court that Emefiele, who was suspended as CBN governor, had been in detention.

He said all efforts to reach him to communicate the directive of the court to him were unsuccessful.

He prayed the court to grant another opportunity to his client as they have been unable to reach him since the last order, directing him to appear in court.

On October 20, 2022, Justice Ekwo ordered the CBN governor to appear in court on January 18 over his alleged refusal to obey the order of the court for the payment of the judgment debt in favour of a legal practitioner, Joe Agi, SAN.

Agi had dragged Linas International Ltd, Minister of Finance, CBN, and Emefiele to court as 1st to 4th judgment debtors respectively, following an application for garnishee made by him as judgment creditor in the case.

However, the matter was subsequently adjourned to March 20, before it was fixed for June 6 again as of January 18, proceedings could not go on as scheduled.

On June 6, the court ordered Emefiele to appear before it on July 19.

But President Bola Tinubu, on June 9, suspended him as CBN governor and he was directed to transfer his responsibilities to the deputy governor, operations directorate.

Hours after his suspension, the DSS announced his arrest and detention on June 10.

Upon resumed hearing on Wednesday, Ayodele Arotiowa, who appeared for Agi, was about to make a submission when Justice Ekwo asked Emefiele’s lawyer if he had complied with the order.

“We made an effort to see how we can communicate with the 4th respondent (Emefiele) but the 3rd respondent (CBN) was unable to communicate with the 4th respondent.

“We rely only on public communication that the 4th respondent is incarcerated and have been unable to communicate with him,” Anuga responded.

He said there was another development now as to whether Emefiele could act on behalf of the CBN.

However, the judge said that Emefiele was sued in his personal capacity.

Anuga said, “But the public information now is that he has been suspended. An opportunity has to be given to him to comply.”

But Justice Ekwo asked how long the court would wait for Emefiele since 2017 when the suit was filed.

He asked Anuga to tender a good reason why the court should not issue a warrant of arrest against Emefiele.

The senior lawyer said since his client was still in detention after his suspension despite an order mandating his release, “My lord, we are at the mercy of the court.”

“But there is an intervening event, as we have not had the privilege to see him.”

“The last opportunity my lord gave to the 4th respondent has not been communicated to him.”

“I feel opportunity should be given so that this can be communicated,” he pleaded.

Anuga said after this, if Emefiele failed to comply, the court can then take action.

The judge, consequently, adjourned the matter until October 31 for the CBN and Emefiele to show cause why an arrest warrant should not be issued against the former CBN governor.

The dispute stemmed from an alleged $70 million judgment against Linas International Ltd for the lawyer’s (Joe Agi) assistance with the Paris Club refund.

Emefiele was said to have only released $17 million, leaving an unpaid balance of $53 million.

The court had on January 23, 2020, ruled that Emefiele must appear “to be examined on oath.”

Barring any last minute changes, immediate past Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai may be named the Minister of Power when the Senate unveils the ministerial list THE WHISTLER has gathered.

The list which was billed for unveiling on Wednesday during plenary may now be unveiled on Thursday according to a presidency source.

A source in the office of the Clerk of the Senate hinted this paper that contrary to the revelation on Tuesday by the Clerk of the Senate, Magaji Tambuwal, that the list was up for unveiling on Wednesday, that it is still being awaited.

She however added that “except that they are keeping close tabs on it so as not to make it leak, it has not arrived as of Wednesday morning before plenary.”

The ministerial list which has long been expected would now be presented on Thursday or next week legislative days of Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Any presentation of the list to the Senate beyond these days would be tantamount to illegality as the amended constitution provides the president and governors 60 days window to form cabinet.

Towards the end of the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, the national assembly had amended the constitution in order to stop the President and governors from ruling without a cabinet for too long.

Buhari had spent 6 months before naming his cabinet which drew intense criticism.

Although the chief spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, Dele Alake, had said in March that, “I think 60 days is even too much to form a cabinet” and that, “A month, maximum, is enough for any serious government to form its cabinet and put a structure of government in place after swearing-in.”

But Tinubu has spent 10 days shy of 60 days in office.

Alake however told THE WHISTLER that things have changed, and that “There’s a new 60-day law.”

He declined to explain further.

But this paper gathered from a Presidency source who was privy to those the president would have presented to the Senate for consideration that the list may likely be unveiled on Thursday with El-Rufai headlining the appointments.

He doubled down on his revelation when asked if El-Rufai was in the list and the portfolio, saying, “Yes, he’s there, as the Power Minister.”

Another source confirmed that the list was indeed ready as “all security checks have been conducted and concluded on the 37 names expected.”

He however said the buck stops with the president to tinker with it even in the last minutes.

He further explained that the list has been tinkered with several times owing to disagreement from states and stakeholders and the president’s decision to accommodate input.

On El-Rufai he further revealed that the former Minister of the FCT has begun “to meet some experts he wants to work with to fix the power problem. It’s a take home the Tinubu administration wants,” he said.

He said El-Rufai’s appointment was to enable him bring his managerial skill “like he did in Abuja” to bear on the administration.

Among the much sought after portfolios which have allegedly delayed the submission of the ministerial list are the Ministers of Works, Power, Defense, Justice, Finance, Petroleum and Agriculture.

These are considered “juicy” portfolios on account of the responsibilities and areas ministers that handle them control.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has renewed its call on the Federal Government to urgently pay the four months withheld salaries owed its members in the interest of industrial harmony in the country’s tertiary education sector.

SSANU also placed premium on its call for renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/SSANU agreement, replacement of IPPIS, payment of minimum wage to some federal universities, release of N50 billion for the payment of outstanding earned allowance, reinstatement of the dissolved governing board of federal universities and an end to the infringement on the autonomy of universities by the Office of the Head of Service.

SSANU’s demands are contained in a communiqué signed by its national president, Comrade Mohammed H. Ibrahim, at the end of its 44th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State.

The union also frowned on non-inclusion of SSANU as a critical stakeholder in the decision making and implementation of education-related national policies such as the recent Students Loan.

The communiqué read, “Let it be known to the government that our members are yet to recover from the effect of the hardship caused by the withholding of their four months salaries and may not recover from it unless government does something about it.

“NEC-in-session views the government’s posture and position on the matter as unfair and unfortunate. We are well aware that salaries for those months were prepared and, therefore, call on the government to urgently pay the arrears of our members’ withheld salaries without further delay.

“Acknowledging the demise of the chairman of the government team, Professor Nimi D. Briggs, NEC-in-session calls on the government to, as a matter of urgency, reconstitute a new committee for the renegotiation of the SSANU/FGN 2009 agreement as the issue is long overdue.

“SSANU has earnestly offered itself for the renegotiation process to commence and awaits the invitation of the Federal Government on the issue.

“NEC-in-session is demanding that Federal Government should consider merging the payment platforms developed by JAC of SSANU, NASU (U3PS) and ASUU (UTAS) since it is on record that the platforms are capable of addressing the peculiarities of the university system.

“NEC calls on the government to, as a matter of urgency, commence payment to the following underlisted universities: Federal University Otuoke; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; Federal University, Dutsima; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; Federal University, Gashua, Yobe; Federal University Kashere; University of Maiduguri, Modibo; Adamawa University, Yola; University of Benin, Benin; College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-Araba and University of Calabar.”

On earned allowances, the union said, “The government had promised to release the sum of N50 billion for payment of outstanding earned allowances to universities and inter-university centres. This agreement is yet to be fulfilled. NEC-in-session urges the government to release funds for payment of the allowances without further delay as this was provided for in the 2023 budget.

“NEC-in-session vehemently condemns the recent arbitrary and blanket dissolution of Governing Councils of federal universities by the Federal Government. This action is illegal, inimical to the growth and proper functioning and management of universities in Nigeria as the appointment of the Governing Councils are tenured in line with the extant laws as gazetted. For the avoidance of doubt, the law also provides that Governing Councils can only be dissolved on proven cases of corruption and incompetence.”

On infringement of the autonomy of federal universities by the Head of Service, the union said, “It should be noted that at no time has the Head of Service been part of the promotion and appointments of staff of universities. Promotion in the system ends with councils of universities, where a representative of the Federal Ministry of Education is also a member. NEC-in-session demands that councils of universities should be allowed to perform their functions devoid of interference by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation or its agents for that matter.”

The communiqué also stated, “SSANU is not averse to the introduction of the Student Loan to deserving students who are desirous of higher education. NEC-in-session however, frowns at the conditions and modalities of accessing the loan. The conditions are too stringent for any civil servant’s child/ward to fulfil. More so, SSANU, as a critical stakeholder in the university system, should be involved in the management of the scheme.

“NEC therefore requests the government to involve all staff unions in tertiary institutions in this critical exercise as stakeholders. In the same vein, the conditions for the acquisition of the loan should be reviewed to enable interested students to access and repay same.”

Strong indication emerged Wednesday evening that President Bola Tinubu is looking towards a former Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje as a suitable replacement for the position of erstwhile national chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Consequently, Vanguard gathered that Ganduaje’s name has been dropped from Tinubu’s list of ministerial nominees

Details shortly…

The Supreme Court on Wednesday described as untrue reports that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had a telephone conversation with President Bola Tinubu and the Director General of the Department of State Services on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The apex court warned that if the current trend of falsehood and mudslinging continued to be sustained, Nigeria may not make the desired progress.

The Director of Press and Information in the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, made the clarification in a statement titled, “No telephone conversations between CJN and anyone concerning the Presidential Election Petition.”

He said, “In view of the rumor currently circulating in the social media space that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola had a telephone conversation with His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Director General of the Department of State Service with a view to pressurising the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the likely judgment to give, it is imperative to state clearly that there is no iota of truth in the narrative, as there was no such telephone conversation between the CJN and anyone.

“Nigerians have been following the proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with admirable enthusiasm. So, it is advisable we all sustain the tempo and follow it up to the end, instead of relapsing into the realm of speculations and rumor peddling that will not do anyone any good. If this current trend of falsehood and mudslinging is sustained, our nation may not make the desired progress.

“The Courts are statutorily established to serve the best interest of the masses, and we are ever poised to do that to the best of our ability. We wish to plead with everyone to cooperate with the judiciary to serve the country to its full capacity, as no one will ever be favoured against the other in any dispute.

“The rule of law and supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution will always be upheld and applied in every matter that comes before the courts; as the facts presented and the subsisting laws must be applied in determining the merit or otherwise of each matter. The public should rest assured that justice will be done to all matters pending in the various courts across the country, irrespective of who is involved.”

For the past thirty years  when fuel importation began during the Sani Abacha-led  administration, Nigeria has been saddled with very bad leaders who are very myopic and suffer from poverty of ideas. How else can one explain three decades of fuel importation without thinking of the long-term effects on the nation's economy and the citizens as a whole. In an opinion piece published by the Cable online newspaper on March 29,2021, this writer warned against the impending economic catastrophe if fuel subsidy was removed without local production of fuel. Nigeria has abundant crude oil reserves, but unfortunately, the country is unable to refine a litre of fuel. It is indeed a tragic paradox in an oil-driven economy. Nigeria depends absolutely on imported fuel due to several years of  leadership failure, sabotage and official corruption. The price of fuel depends on the exchange rate of the Naira to the Dollar. Since the abrogation of fuel subsidy regime on May 29,2023 by the present administration and the unification of the exchange rate of the Naira, the price of fuel has jumped from #190 to #617. This is happening at a time when the citizens are already impoverished. Nigeria is regarded as the poverty capital of the world. Nearly the entire 200 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty.

The monolithic economy has always been very fragile and vulnerable to external shocks. The cost of living has risen astronomically while the income level of the vast majority of the people has remained stagnant. There are no social safety nets to cushion the effects of severe economic hardship. The electricity distribution companies are also planning to increase electricity tariff anytime from now. The citizens can no longer breathe due to economic suffocation. Only the parasitic political class is taking care of itself.

Public office holders enjoy free fuel apart fro jumbo emoluments and other perquisites of office. They do not know where the shoe pinches or feel the excruciating pains the people are passing through. There is widespread lamentation across the country as poverty has been weaponized.

For inexplicable reasons, successive administrations have refused to take a concrete decision on the moribund Nigerian National Petroleum Company's refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna. The refineries have been in a state of coma for a very long time, while huge sums of money have gone down the drain under the guise of "Turn Around Maintenance". The best policy option is outright privatization of the refineries to international core investors with track records. The refineries have become wasting assets without any benefit to the country. It is obvious that the NNPC is incapable of running the refineries efficiently and optimally.

Apart from the privatization of the refineries within a well-defined timeframe, other policy options include upward review of transport and housing allowances of workers; empowerment programme for youths in terms of job creation; reduction of custom tariff on imported raw materials for the manufacturing sector; provision of subsidized agricultural inputs especially tractors and fertilizers to boost food production; and provision of mass transit buses for transportation. The Federal and State Governments need to collaborate together to reduce the hardship of the citizens.

In order to curtail rising cost of fuel, the Federal Government has to intervene pending the time local production of fuel will commence. Hiding under the so-called "market forces" to determine the price of fuel is very dangerous and counterproductive. The people cannot be blamed for leadership failure to fix the refineries. Already, the citizens have been pushed to the wall and there is a limit to human endurance. The primary responsibility of government is to ensure the welfare of the people. Nigeria belongs to all citizens not just the privileged few.

Faramade is Programme Director and Editor-in-Chief of Journalists Against Poverty (Twitter.com//@JournalistsAga3)