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After a long wait for Michael Essien, the Ghana Football Authority (GFA) stated on Wednesday that the Ghanaian captain will not be fit in time for the World Cup which starts in a fortnight.

The statement on the GFA site read in part: "An evaluation by a combined team of medical experts from the Ghana Football Association and Chelsea Football Club revealed that Essien will not make full recovery until the end of July. The Ghana Football Association wishes him full recovery and a quick return to football action."

Unending rehabilitation

The 27-year-old Chelsea midfielder has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during the African Cup of Nations in January.

It had been thought that Essien would return before the end of the season alongside Ashley Cole for Chelsea. Cole fractured his left ankle on February 10 2010 against Everton. The 28-year-old England international though returned in time to help the Blues grab the double, scoring the last goal in the 8-0 rout of Wigan on the last day..

What next for the Black Stars

This will further heap a lot of pressure on recuperating Stephen Appiah, who has not played club football for a year and Sulley Muntari, as both are not as dynamic as Essien.

Essien played in 10 of Ghana's 11 qualification matches, clocking more than 800 minutes of game time, as Ghana finished at the top of their group, and automatically sealed a spot at the World Cup. The Ghana coach had said last week that Essien's presence was invaluable to the Black Stars.

"Essien is an important player, not only for Ghana but for the World Cup. He is one of the best players in the world and the World Cup is an assembly of the best," said Coach Milovan Rajevac.

The coach must now tinker with the favoured 4-4-2 formation to accommodate Udinese's Kwadwo Asamoah alongside Sulley Muntari and Appiah. Although Ghana won't lack for presence in the centre of the park, there will be something missing; and that will be Michael Essien, who would make the line-up for any of the nations at the 2010 World Cup a better team.

For the sake of a “distinctive identity” and a desire to attract and retain a high calibre workforce, the Senate has approved a 100% increase in the salaries of the National Assembly workforce.

The new increase is coming at a time when the legislators are also considering increasing their pay by 68%, but will apply across the Legislative aides, the National Assembly staff and the management staff.

Discussions on the new salary structure was concluded in the Senate on Wednesday, following the adoption of a report of the Senate committee on establishments and public service, which reviewed the consolidated legislative salary structure for staff of the National Assembly.

The increase is a result of an agreement reached by the National Assembly service commission and the Parliamentary Staff Association on Nigeria.

The increment, according to the committee’s report, will take effect from January this year, but will be deployed in batches: 50% to be paid immediately, while the balance will be spread over the next eight years.

The 50% balance will be added up incrementally by 20%, 15%, and 15% after the second, sixth, and eight year respectively.

The cost

The implementation of the immediate 50% salary increment will cost the nation a whooping N11 billion annually, N4.65 billion above the N6.3 billion that it costs to service the National Assembly workforce currently.

The Senate, however, argued that it is a necessary step to strengthen the autonomy of the National Assembly.

“...there is the need to create an identity for the National Assembly service, in line with the constitution of Nigeria, which makes it an independent arm in tandem with the concept of separation of powers,” Mohamed Ahmed, chairman of the Senate committee, stated in the committee’s report.

He added that it was “imperative to establish a pay structure which will ensure good salaries and reasonable allowances that will attract and retain high calibre of staff, even from the academia and the private sector, as is the case in other parliaments of the world.”

With the initial 50% increase, grade level 17 officers with the National Assembly service commission will earn N5.25 million annually. A graduate at grade level 8 will earn N1.25 million annually, while the least - grade level 3 - will earn N404 thousand annually.

The National Assembly service commission has 317 staff and will cost a total of N4.57 billion annually.

The bulk of the money will, however, be spent on the legislative aides working directly under the lawmakers.

The legislative aides numbering 2 942, will cost the government N6.02 billion annually, till the next increment in 2012.

The third batch of employees, the National Assembly management staff, numbering 3 167, will cost the nation N4.576 billion annually.

“The committee is (also) of the strong opinion that an improved salary structure will encourage hard work, honesty, dedication, and commitment of staff; and will reduce corrupt tendencies and practices in the service,” Mr. Ahmed said..

Venomous Snakes were being ferried from Africa to Europe in a plane. Unfortunately, the person who packed the snakes forgot to lock the box where the snakes were put. Once the plane took off and started responding to plane movement, the snakes found their way out of the box...passengers could see various snakes on the isle. While they scream on top of their voice, some fainted, the brave ones sought refuge wherever they could inside the plane.

The air hostess ran to the pilot to inform him of this scaring incident. The pilot quickly alerted the air controllers on the ground.

"We are very sorry, says his boss. We forgot to lock the box where we put the snakes. They are indeed some of the poisonous snakes in the world."

"So where can I land? Please advise me before passengers are bitten," asked the shaking pilot.

"No, do not land, stay there for some time let me think and tell you what to do," the boss advised.

This advise sounded so stupid to the impatient pilot. But he has to follow the order of his boss.

The boss contacted him after some time. "At what altitude are you flying? He asked.

"300," The pilot replied. "Go higher" the boss advised.

"But the snakes will..." Before he could finish the boss shouted "l said GO HIGHER!!" He then complied.

Now what is your altitude? the boss asked

"500.66" the shaking pilot answered.

"GO HIGHER"

"But Sir....."

"I said GO HIGHER captain" He complied.

By then the snakes were already all over the plane, even one male member of the cabin crew collapsed. It is unbearable. A few Have been bitten And they died instantly. Yet, the majority kept on seeking for refuge.

"Now Captain, keep on going higher," said the boss.

The pilot complied and kept on going higher and higher.

"Now, what's your altitude?" The boss asked.

I am reaching "1200," pilot replies. "Now I am on "1200," he says quickly.

"Now stay there."

"Tell the cabin crews, that at this altitude, the snakes are harmless. They can just pick them up with their hands and return them to the box, and this time they should not forget to lock the box." The boss advised.

This is true! One cabin member shouted as he tried holding one snake. "It is numb and harmless.

It was a game in the plane within the passengers, some for the first time they are touching a snake. Holding it in their hands and returning them to the box.

"Look at this black Mamba, it was really after me. now, I can hold it, throw it and catch it like a ball."

One passenger said while throwing and catching the Mamba.

This was the end of the seemingly dangerous ordeal in the plane.

Even those who fainted were resuscitated and they gained consciousness.

Now, What is the lesson of the story?

In "2010," The Snakes or problems of "2009" will follow you.

However, There is need for you to increase your altitude in Prayers. And surely, there is a certain point in praying that you will reach, and this is the point when even the most seemingly unconquerable problems are defeated; They lose power.

Never faint at the face of any problem that seem impregnable. God still have more than enough Grace for you to scale throgh. IN JESUS' NAME....(Amen).

The House of Representatives leadership yesterday averted an outright confrontation with members amid allegations that it withheld approval for more funds that would raise members’ quarterly allowance to N42 million.

Anxiety rose at Tuesday’s sitting, which was the first to be held after allegations that lawmakers asked for a new allowance package were made public.

Up we go

Members, according to sources who were part of the House closed-door meeting two weeks ago, tried to convince their leadership on why the current N27.2 million allowance they receive every four months, needs to be reviewed upwards..

Short of funds apart from that appropriated for allowances, lawmakers understand the implication and have encouraged the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, to go ahead and draw funds from other sources to the tune of N15.1 billion.

Mr. Bankole, according to sources close to him, is uncomfortable with the suggestion and has withheld his assent even after he orally agreed with the members.

However, he and his deputy, Usman Nafada, face an impeachment threat if they fail, the sources say.

But the House spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, who heads the committee on Media, denied the reports, saying the Speaker has no such powers to unilaterally raise pay, and so cannot be expected to do same.

Yesterday’s plenary was the first after the reports became public.

The notion gained fillip when Mr. Bankole failed to show up at the sitting, and Mr. Nafada had to conduct proceedings.

After preliminary procedures, Independence Ogunewe, a member representing Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo State, claimed his privilege as a lawmaker had been breached, and said he could only disclose his worry if Mr. Nafada ordered a closed-door session.

“What I am talking about, affects me, affects you and affects other members, it is not for the public,” he told said.

Targeting the Speaker

Mr. Nafada however insisted that the matter be discussed openly. “Go ahead and say it, say it, or you meet me in my office,” he said repeatedly, rejecting the option of an executive session, and pushing the session into a row that lasted more than 15 minutes.

Both lawmakers were then approached by colleagues, who prevailed on them to resolve the issue peacefully.

Sources indicate that Mr. Nafada’s effort against the closed-door sitting was in furtherance of an alternative belief that the agitation for new allowances, when made open and available to the media, would be severely weakened.

However, Mr. Ogunlewe finally apologised to the Deputy Speaker, who subsequently ordered for an executive session that lasted for more than one and a half hour.

The global premiere of Notes to Notes, an animated video that tells the story of Nigeria’s rich history using the naira notes, and illustrates the core values of the country’s naira notes, will hold today at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema, The Palms, Lekki, Lagos.

According to Aneto Okonkwo, an associate of the Nigeria leadership Initiative (NLI), an international non-profit organization and the organizers of the event, the country’s younger generation lack a good knowledge of the history of their nation.

Knowledge of the country

“During the last Future Leaders Class of the NLI (all new NLI Associates must go through a three-day Leadership Training before induction), we were taken through a course on Nigeria’s history,” said Mr Okonkwo.

“Very quickly, it became obvious that quite a few of us (especially the Nigerians in the Diaspora) had a few gaps in our knowledge of our nation’s history. We were concerned that this would be even worse for the younger generation. So we set out to create an animated video that was short and fun, that would remind the youth about Nigeria’s history and values.

“The video was deliberately kept short in view of the short attention span of some youth. Also, we wanted something that was easily distributed on the web and mobile phones.”

The project team was drawn from NLI Associates in the October 2009 Class (Associates are inducted twice a year - in May and October).

A lineup of celebrities including MI, Kate Henshaw-Nuttall, BOUQUI, TY Bello, Sasha, Omawumi, Rooftop MCs, Chioma Omeruah and Aisha Augie-Kuta, will narrate the Aphobos Studios’ Femi Omoluabi-produced video.

Reliving the past

Tunde Olanrewaju, Co-Chair of the NLI Management Board, relived the experiences of the Nigerian youth in the early sixties.

“We had gained independence and Nigerian youth exhibited an insatiable thirst for education and innovation in different spheres of life. During this time, strong values and a sense of community were the fabric of Nigerian society and Nigerians upheld values in their everyday activities. Today, this is just not the case.”

The Notes to Notes video will also be broadcast on TV and radio stations on Children’s Day, May 27, 2010, at 8pm on Silverbird TV and Inspiration FM. It will also be available for free download at www.nli-global.org.

The Notes to Note project is under NLI’s CLEVER initiative, which includes other projects like the Wordslam competition where youth can write the lyrics to a potential award-winning song and international poetry book. There’s also a Clever Club, which gives students an opportunity to take responsibility for transforming the country by developing a sense of civic responsibility.

People are talking and saying that What Turai did was mere childsplay that we are about to see the mother of all First Ladies in 9ja ! READ ON: Shocking Revelations await

Article:

It used to be that our government officials, their wives, aides, and hangers-on were prolific in the exercise of poor judgment and the making of horrible choices that always exacted a terrible price from the rest of us. When I read newspaper reports last week that Mrs. Patience Jonathan had travelled to Dubai and Beirut “on a private visit”, I concluded that our nightmare had just been made worse. It means that these fellas ruining our lives in Abuja and the state capitals have now graduated from the congenital exercise of poor judgment that afflicts all of them, to an outright assassination of judgment.

Let’s dispense first with some of the half-witted commentaries of the ponces of power that have been running riot on the Internet. Dame (the title maniacs have quietly introduced the ‘Dame’ thing in the media) Patience Jonathan, we are told, has the right to travel anywhere privately as a free citizen of Nigeria bla bla bla and more bla. Fine. The emergency contractor-defenders of the civil rights of the First Lady should please remind her not to use the presidential jet for the Abuja-Lagos leg of such private trips next time. Once the Nigerian taxpayer foots the bill of any part of the First Lady’s private trips, it is our responsibility to make our basketmouths to start dey leak again - apologies to Fela.

Of all the destinations that Patience Jonathan could have visited on this horribly ill-timed and unbelievably ill reflected “private trip”, it had to be Dubai, an increasingly popular money laundering route/destination for Nigerian politicians, government officials, and their courier-wives and concubines. And this is a Patience Jonathan who is still waiting for her day in court for corruption charges bordering on money laundering (by the way, her EFCC indictment file must not disappear)! Pray, when your neighbours suspect you of stealing the dogs in the neighbourhood for 404 purposes, must you be heard boasting of your affection for puppies in the market?

It gets worse.

Our friend, Elder Chief Stakeholder James Ibori, was apprehended by Interpol in Dubai. One week later, Patience Jonathan is on the plane to Dubai. Is there, by any chance, any of the handlers of the Jonathans who was thinking correctly?

The couple has a retinue of aides and advisers responsible for the packaging of their every move. We need to know which of them thought it was a great idea for the Patience Jonathan to head out to Elder Chief Stakeholder Ibori’s embrace in Dubai at this most inauspicious of times.

Ibori’s embrace? Am I perhaps stretching metaphor and speculation? You bet I am! I am more than happy to help the Jonathans ruin the little goodwill that ushered them into Aso Rock since squandering that goodwill appears to be their first order of business. And that is precisely what Nigerians are doing online. It’s an orgy of wild speculations out there. What does Elder Chief Stakeholder Ibori know?

What is the nature of the beans he is threatening to spill to the Dubai and British authorities that may have warranted presidential pacification? Does he perhaps have more embarrassing details on that little matter of Patience Jonathan’s money laundering wahala? Who knows what the Yar’Adua cabal revealed to him about the Jonathans when he played godfather over Aso Rock.

There is also considerable Internet chatter about madam having gone on a jewelry shopping spree. All the chatter about going to pacify Elder Chief Stakeholder Ibori or waste our money on jewelry is deserved. That is what you get when you have a Presidency that has been so perennially clueless in the management of public perception. Segun Adeniyi and his crew perpetually mismanaged the public perception of the Yar’Aduas. They were so incompetent that they couldn’t even tell coherent lies to the Nigerian people. Ima Niboro and his crew don carry dem own come. Not one of them suggested to their Oga and his Madam that this woolly-headed trip couldn’t have come at a worse time?

Beyond Internet chatter about the ill-advised trip to Dubai, it does appear that we, first lady-weary Nigerians, will once again have to contend with the spectre of that unconstitutional assault on our sensibilities. Patience Jonathan is already showing all the symptoms of a looming no break no jam first ladyship. There is always a competition to surpass the last occupant of that constitutionally non-existent office in overbearing showiness, gra-gra, and ostentation.

What is wrong with Nigerian men? Why do they find it so difficult to tell their ever ambitious madams that our Constitution does not recognise their predilection for transforming oga’s political office into a divahood launching pad? Every time someone gets selected to office, they make a heck of a noise about not tolerating the first lady aberration, only to get to the bedroom and sing a different tune to madam. After Maryam Babangida, Miriam Abacha, Stella Obasanjo, and Turai Yar’Adua, Nigerians are more than ready for a return to the first ladyless days of Shehu Shagari and Muhammadu Buhari. Deopka Goodluck Jonathan must therefore be advised to exercise no patience with Patience on this matter.

By Pius Adesanmmi