At least 13, 000 former militants will be sponsored to study at various higher institutions, within and outside the country in batches, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, has said. Mr. Orubebe disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, after he inspected the various projects being executed by his ministry and the Niger Delta Development Commission in the oil producing areas of the state.

He said that the involvement of foreign experts in their training, was to give the ex militants the best instructions and knowledge that would stabilise their minds for positive thinking. The minister, however, pointed out that those who staged protests against the slow pace of the amnesty programme of the Federal Government in Abuja recently were not included the plan. According to him, the protesters were not among the 20, 000 youth registered by the federal government before the expiration of the grace period for the submission of arms last year.

Remain calm.

Mr. Orubebe encouraged the former militants to remain calm and allow the government officials handling the project execute programmes that will assist them in becoming a changed person in the society. “The amnesty programme is also on course,” he said. “There are little challenge which are ordinarily expected when one is trying to experiment with a system. Over 20, 000 youths embraced the programme and it is not practical for all of them to be trained at the same time.” He also exonerated President Goodluck Jonathan of politicking at the expense of offering good governance to the people of the country, saying “It is glaring that the mind-set of President Jonathan is not in politics, but wanted everybody to have equal rights, he wants electorate votes to count, Nigeria of his dream is the one where things are done rightly. President Jonathan is interested in obeying the judgment when it is pronounced, politics is out of his thinking, he wants great things for this country and its citizenry.”

Medical doctor members of the National Association of Seadogs on humanitarian duty.

As a way of lending credence to Mr. Soyinka’s claim, some members of the Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), a.k.a Pyrates Confraternity, recently came out to demonstrate their noble intentions by offering free medical aid to some Lagos residents, while using the forum to carry out a voter-education campaign, in preparation for the 2011 general elections.

Under the canopies erected at the Ojuelegba Bus Stop at Surulere, members of the confraternity who are medical practitioners checked the blood pressure (BP) and the sugar levels of passers-by, dispensed drugs and gave advice to people with serious health conditions; while other members of different professions shared fliers educating the public on the dangers of drug abuse and addiction.

A passer-by, Ekaette Daniel, said the occasion allowed her to check her health and confirm some of the health problems she had suspected she was suffering from.

“I saw them giving free medical treatment so I decided to check myself. The doctors told me that my BP is OK but that I am too big for my height. I had suspected this but was not sure because it has been long I did a check-up. They confirmed it and advised me on what to do,” said Ms Daniel.

One man, one vote

While speaking at the occasion, which also served as a forum to educate the public on the forthcoming general elections, the secretary of the group, Uche Nwachukwu, condemned any power shift or zoning formula in the formation of Nigeria’s polity..

Mr Nwachukwu said any concept which supports allotting where a person must come from before aspiring to an elected office, is contrary to the principles of democracy.

“Zoning is an anathema. It runs in opposites to democracy. It is a means of disenfranchising people from certain positions. What Nigeria needs is credible elections. There must be a review of the voters register and necessary structures must be put in place now to ensure our votes count by 2011,” said Mr Nwachukwu, who is a paediatrician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Seizing the opportunity for a free check-up, a teacher, Olaniyi Ogunmuyiwa, said, for eight months, he has been suffering from relapsing chest and throat pains. He said he was “pleased to get free medical attention” because he had been procrastinating going to a hospital.

The association’s Lagos chapter spokesperson, Sylvester Nsor, said over 130 people were given free medical attention during the exercise. He said the association, which is a male-only confraternity, chose the Ojuelegba Bus Stop as its sensitisation point owing to the location being a melting-pot for several inhabitants who engage in diverse clandestine activities.

“Amongst NAS values is the promotion of humanitarian ideals aimed at touching lives and giving hope to the less-privileged in the society. And Ojuelegba is a place with so many characters who need to be informed on the dangers of drugs,” said Mr Nsor, a member of the confraternity since 1991.

Formed as a tertiary campus pressure group, the Pyrates Confraternity was founded in 1952 by seven students of the University College, Ibadan (now the University of Ibadan), including Mr Soyinka, to protest against oppression and tribal alienation. It was formally registered as the National Association of Seadogs in 1980. The Association, since 1984, has continually dissociated itself from university cult fraternities known for anti-social tendencies.

In a story that has garnered national attention, Aimee L. Sword was sentenced Monday to serve 9-30 years in prison for sexual misconduct with a boy she had given up for adoption as an infant.

In 2008, Sword tracked the boy down through Facebook, after she failed to receive an annual report from the Grand Rapids couple that adopted and raised him. Unfortunately, seeing the boy, then 14, triggered instincts in the biological mother that were not maternal. As her lawyer Mitchell Ribitwer told the New York Daily News: "When she saw the boy, something just touched off in her, and it wasn't a mother-son relationship..."

Unaware that Sword's sexual interest was piqued, the adoptive family permitted the boy to visit her. It seemed safe enough, since Sword was married with five children.

But the artful and insistant Sword seduced the boy, ignoring the maternal link and the fact that the boy had not reached the age of consent, not to mention the 20 year age difference.

According to the boy's testimony at Sword's preliminary examination, Sword had sex with him at a motel, and the Waterford Twp home of one of Sword's relatives. Finally, the boy reported the incidents to a counselor.

Sword ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct in exchange for dismissal of other charges. At Monday's sentencing, she apologized for her actions.

The prosecutor was less than forgiving, characterizing Sword's sexual contact with her biological son, now 16, as a "selfish, cowardly, dispicable act."..

FROM PEOPLE: Martin Lawrence and his longtime girlfriend, Shamicka Gibbs, were married in an intimate wedding onSaturday at the actor’s home in Beverly Hills, PEOPLE confirms..

Lawrence, 45, and Gibbs, 35, exchanged Christian vows in the backyard in front of 120 guests, including Eddie Murphy and Denzel Washington.Their daughters Amara, 9, and Iyana, 7, and Lawrence’s daughter Jasmine,14, from a previous marriage were flower girls.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds joined their guests under a tent for a reception. For the family-style celebration, event designer DiannValentine arranged for two long tables in the shape of an “X” for allthe guests to sit together.

The four-course sit-down dinner, catered by Tres LA, included salad, crab cakes and salmon, Lawrence’s favorite dish. The four-tiered weddingcake was by Rosebud Cakes in Beverly Hills.

“They wanted an intimate celebration,” says a source. “This wedding was all about family.

Lawrence was last seen in this year’s comedy Death at a Funeral. He recently wrapped Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

Jay-Z Addresses Freemasonry & Illuminati Rumors On Rick Ross Song

by @gordonmacmillan, posted on 13 July, 2010 at 8:56 am, filed under Search Engines, Social Media, Social Networkingand tagged Facebook, Friendster, Google, Google Me, LinkedIn, MySpace, Orkut, Twitter, Zynga. Bookmark thepermalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.

Tobi Soniyi and James Emejo

13 July 2010

Abuja — President Goodluck Jonathan has extended the new salary package to the military, para-military, police and intelligence community, who were not always covered by similar salary reviews in the past.

The extension of the jumbo increase to other public servants as opposed to the core civil servants, THISDAY learnt, has shot the entire wage bill to N267.4 billion.

President Jonathan had on May 1, 2010 promised to implement a new salary package for workers.

The new wage bill, which is said to be effective from July 1, 2010, shows an increase of N233,034,129,947 or 777 percentage increase from the present N34,388,156,375, which the Federal Government spends on core civil servants annually.

The wage bill is contained in a letter sent to the Minister of Finance Olusegun Aganga and Head of Service Steve Oronsaye by President Jonathan.

The letter was signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Administration), Mr. Matt Aikhionbare.

The letter reads, "I am directed to forward Reference A to you and to convey to you Mr. President's approval of paragraph 8 on page 3."

Also, attached to the letter was a letter from Oronsaye to the President, which gave the details of the salaries increase for federal workers...

The letter reads: "Your Excellency may please wish to be informed that the compilation of the increase for the core civil service is an increase in wage bill of N34,388,156,375 per annum.

"However, because of the unrest the increase for the core civil service will likely generate among parastatals, the para-military, the police, the Armed Forces, the intelligence community and research institutes, it was recommended that a holistic approach be adopted.

"The cost implication of the holistic approach is a total wage increase of Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira (N267, 422, 286, 322) per annum."

A memorandum containing the proposed agreement reached between the Federal Government Team and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council-Trade Union Side was also attached.

The letter continues, "Your Excellency is invited to please note:

(i) That the salary negotiation committee has completed its assignment;

(ii) That increase of 53.37 % was agreed for Salary Grade Level 01-16 and for Directors at least 1/3 of the Salary of a Permanent Secretary;

(iii) That for peace to reign, increase of the same percentage for parastatals, para-military, the Armed Force, the intelligence community and the research institutes is recommended.

(iv) That additional Two Hundred and Sixty-Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty-Two Million and Eighty-Six Thousand Naira (N267,422,286,322) is required to service the increase per annum;

(v) That 50 per cent of the figure in paragraph 1v above will be captured in the 2010 Supplementary Budget;

(vi) That the Budget Office is in agreement with the cost implication of the increase.

He consequently asked and got the President's approval for salary increase of 58.37 per cent for workers at Grade levels 01-16.

The President has also directed that salaries of directors in federal ministries and agencies be increased by at least 1/3 of the salary of a permanent secretary.

The Armed Forces, police, paramilitary, intelligence community (State Security Services, Nigerian Intelligence Agency among others), parastatals as well as research institutes will also enjoy the same salary increase.

President Jonathan approved the new salary structure wherein the new minimum wage, that is the salary of the least paid worker, is put around N17, 000.

The President has also proposed a supplementary appropriation to take care of the wage increase among other things. The bill is receiving the attention of the National Assembly.

Defending the wage increase, the President had said in his postings at the weekend on Facebook that the high cost of goods and services was the reason his administration decided to pay living wages to workers in the public service.

He had said: "Having taken time to inform myself of the prices of the most basic goods and services. I personally can imagine the strain many Nigerians go through in order to make ends meet.

"As such, I'm glad to report that progress has been made in terms of paying living wages to workers under the control of the Federal Government. This will not remedy the situation but it will grant some relief while we also apply the resources at our disposal to improving other sectors that will have a positive impact on our general standard of life."

Meanwhile, Oronsanye has confirmed that the Presidency has approved wage increase for ministries, departments and agencies, which were not considered for salary review in the past.

Speaking with newsmen at the opening ceremony of the Procurement Skill Training for Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Abuja, Oronsanye, however, said the payment of the new wage would commence after proposals currently before the National Assembly have been passed.

Also, the head of service cautioned the federal workers who see training programmes as opportunity for welfare packages that "it is no longer business as usual" as they will now be assessed at the end of every course conducted by the office to know if they have added value to themselves."

He said: "And if you do not scale through that test you don't go for any promotion exams... academic qualification is not the issue, it is competence, we do know that there are people who have certain qualifications but they cannot express themselves; academic qualification only brings you to be considered but it is what you are able to offer when you are tested that is important," he said.

According to him, only 180 out of 1,500 civil servants who applied and participated in the previous training exercise actually passed the assessment given at the end of the course.

"That is the reason why I stressed that it is no longer welfare...before now, people go to training because of the allowances they'll get, they just show up but when you now introduce the competency test at the end of the training exercise, you find that people now take it seriously.

"I can just tell you only recently the office of head of service reintroduced the mandatory training but what was new was that at the end of the training, people were tested...what we found out is that those who took the very first set of training didn't do well at the end but those coming after, the pass rate was very high and because they now know that they'll be tested from day one, they'll take it seriously. I believe that the pass rate this time will be better than the first one.

"The beauty of all of it is that at the end of the training programme, you'll then be assessed. This tells you that it is no longer business as usual, we should not just take training as a welfare package...by the time you come in for training, you should from the very beginning know that it is a very serious business because you'll be tested at the end when you finish," he said.

Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Emeka Eze explained that the idea of the workshop was to ensure that public servants are brought to a level where they could help government to achieve value for money in public expenditure.

"The idea of public procurement is to make sure that value for money as a policy of public expenditure is achieved. My expectation is that at the end of this workshop, participants would have been in a position to quickly at the close of the eyes know the ABC of public procurement so that if any political office holder comes or permanent secretary, they would be able to advise them

that this is what the rule says about how things are going to be done... rules for the sake of ensuring transparency and efficiency and providing level playing ground to all Nigerians that there is something happening in our ministry,"

The training programme is organised for officers in MDAs who want to covert to the new procurement cadre that has been created by the federal government

Seventy six Nollywood actors and veterans of the stage will walk the red carpet in honour of Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, who clocks 76 today. The event will take place at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, by 6pm.

Some of the artists lined up for the event are Dejumo Lewis, Kola Oyewo, Felix Okolo,

Peter Badejo, Ayo Lijadu, Tunde Kelani, Joke Silva, Tunde Kuboye and Ben Tomoloju.

Parade of talents

They will be joined in the parade which will be televised live on selected TV stations by Richard Mofe Damijo, Olu Jacobs, Tade Ogidan, Sola Fosudo, Biodun Duro Ladipo,

Nobert Young, Yemi Sodimu, Rachael Oniga, Bimbo Akintola, Ayo Adesanya, Hafiz Oyetoro, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, Duro Oni and others.

‘Preemptive’ a play written by United States of America-based Niyi Coker and directed by Segun Ojewuyi will thereafter be staged at the same venue.

The play which has already toured Barbados and the United Kingdom will also be staged on Wednesday before the accompanying play, ‘Seven’, written by Rachael Hastings and also directed by Mr Ojewuyi, will show at the National Theatre, Iganmu, on Thursday. The two plays will subsequently tour cities including Asaba, Calabar and Abuja.

Speaking on preparations for today’s event at a meeting with journalists yesterday, the cast and crew of ‘Preemptive’ who are also featuring in ‘Seven’, affirmed their readiness to ‘edu-tain’ Nigerians with the plays.

Cortez Johnson, one of the actors described his involvement in the play, which among others examines terrorism and official reaction to it, racism and conflicts, “as a mind blowing experience, really inspirational”. Another actor, Christopher Collins said, “I felt very honoured to be part of this project.” The playwright, Mr Coker, said he hopes the play will make Nigerians “Go back and examine those phobia; what moves you from point A to B. What is it inside you that makes you want to kill the other person?” Born on July 13, 1934 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Wole Soyinka was educated at Saint Peter’s Primary School, Ake, Abeokuta; Government College, Ibadan; the University College,

Ibadan; and the University of Leeds where he began to establish himself as a talented playwright. Some of Soyinka’s plays include ‘Trials of Brother Jero’, ‘Jero’s Metamorphosis’, ‘The Swamp Dwellers’, ‘The Lion and the Jewel’ and ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’ amongst others.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986 and has over the years, become one of the leading members of the human rights and pro-democracy movements in Nigeria.

As the 2010 World Cup draws to a close this weekend in South Africa, women across the globe, especially wives of players from participating countries, are eagerly awaiting the return of their husbands back home.

While millions of football fans have been enjoying the thrills of the World Cup since last month, women, who were denied access to their husbands say they can’t wait for their heartthrobs to return home after Sunday’s final at the Soccer City stadium.

As flowers without water wither away, Menaye Donkor, wife of Ghana’s Sulley Muntari said 2010 World Cup has been great in South Africa but she is happy now that her hubby, who scored a fantastic goal against Uruguay, is due home.

•Sunley Muntari (left) and Menaye.

Speaking on South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, SABC Fashion Show, Menaye praised Ghana’s squad for doing Africa proud. “Ghana made all of us proud and I think my lonely nights are over now. Sulley will soon come home and then we’ll talk about the games as a family”.

•Muntari’s Menaye. Photos: Tunde Oyedele.

Worst hit are the ladies who escorted their husbands to South Africa. They have been coping alone in the hotels as coaches of participating teams do not want them near their husbands to avoid distraction in camp

Caroline Celico, wife of Brazil’s star, Kaka said: “I missed him a lot but I’m not the only one. Some women are used to this because the players travel all the time. But’s it’s hectic in South Africa. I’m, however, happy that the World Cup is over and my man will see me once again,” Caroline said.

•Kaka’s wife, Caroline.

If the women have a choice, may be they would have protested but the wealth from football gives them their daily bread and limelight.

Amaia Salamanca says she can’t wait for the sweet whisper of Spanish star, Ramos, but she must wait until after Sunday’s final against Netherlands to welcome her Real Madrid husband back home.

•Didier Drogba (right) and Lalla.

“I miss Ramos, especially when I see some couples hugging around. I’m happy Spain are playing well, but I have told him the rooms are getting too big for me,” Amaia jokingly said

From the parting statement made by Super Eagles skipper, Nwankwo Kanu immediately after Nigeria crashed out of South Africa 2010 World Cup, it was evident his wife, Amarachi, would be glad he was heading home.

•Nwankwo Kanu (right) and Amarachi.

Kanu, who played just a match for Nigeria at the tournament, was answering questions from international journalists when his wife called to ask when he would join them.

His response was so funny that the journalists at the Mixed Zone of Durban Stadium burst into rounds of laughter. “Oh, you want to know what next I plan to do for the Eagles now that Nigeria has crashed out of the World Cup? Okay, I’m going to meet my wife and kids, who are here in South Africa. They are missing me and I need to go and give them a treat to enjoy the rest of the tournament,” Kanu said as he parried the question.

A close friend of Kanu said Amarachi called her husband to be sure he was not attacked after the last game in which Nigeria drew 2-2 with South Korea.

Amarachi, P.M.Sports gathered, has been a good mother caring for their kids while Kanu was in camp. But, the Igbo lady was quoted as saying she could not wait to welcome her hubby back, especially with the chilly weather of the host country.

Also, Didier Drogba’s wife Lalla, Soma, wife of Matthew Booth of Bafana, say they would hold tight to their husbands immediately after the tournaments before they travel for club assignments again.

•Didier Drogba (right) and Lalla.

“The only language I will like to listen to is: ‘I love you’. That’s what Drogba tells me and I’ve missed that, Lalla said of his Chelsea of England and Cote d’Ivoire hubby....

By Tony Ubani, in South Africa

FIFA president, Sepp Blatter said at the weekend that Nigeria’s failure to make an impact at the 2010 World Cup did not surprise him.

Blatter added that Nigeria and indeed Cote’d Iovire planned for failure when they chose to make changes to the managements of their teams two month to the World Cup.

“It would have been a miracle if Nigeria and Cote’d Ivoire had gone through.

“You cannot manage a national team when you coach two or three months before the competition,” said Blatter.

Nigeria hired Lars Lagerback, but the Swede coach failed to take Nigeria out of the group prelims, despite making a promise of taking the team to the semi-final..

This result left Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan fuming and he sacked all the national teams from FIFA events. He made a u-turn, but Nigeria Football Federation president Sanni Lulu, his first vice Amanze Uchegbulam and Taiwo Ogunjobi were gone in the aftermath. The Swiss-born Blatter downplayed referees mistake at the World Cup.

“We are bound by the best referees we have,” Blatter said. “We tried to get them on top but naturally referees are human beings and they commit errors like everybody.”

Blatter said it was not possible to judge this World Cup in comparison to others, but described it as “special”.

He said: “It was a World Cup on a new continent with a new culture and therefore it must be analysed on different levels, but if you look at the enthusiasm in Africa and also the repercussion in the world, if you look to the television audiences around the world, if you look to the fan-fests everywhere in the world then I have to say it was a special World Cup.”

Nigeria’s dare-devil robbers, showing utter disrespect to even men of God, have attacked a Roman Catholic priest, plucking one of his eyes.

.Their victim is Reverend Father M.O. Fayomi, one of the most senior priests in the Ekiti Diocese.

He was travelling 4 July on the road that links Ibokun in Osun State with nearby Ekiti State, when he was attacked by the bandits.

Sources close to Fr. Fayomi in the diocese said that the criminals stopped his car and asked him for money or any valuables.

The cleric’s plea that he was a man of God who had neither money nor earthly possessions did not move the robbers who brought out a sharp iron object and thrust it deep down his eye, leaving the man of God in pains and in blood.

The affected eye was almost out of the socket following the attack.

The bishop of the diocese, His Lordship, Rt. Reverend Felix Ajakaye, who was immediately informed about the attack, ordered that Fr. Fayomi be rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention.

Doctors at the hospital where he was taken decided to remove the dangling priest’s eye from its socket so that the other eye may not be affected.

The priest is currently recuperating in a hospital outside Ekiti State.

A native of Ikoro-Ekiti town, Fr. Fayomi was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in February 1982, and he became one of the seven most senior priests in his diocese.

He was ordained along with Rev. Fr. P.O. Olawunmi by the former bishop of the diocese, Rt. Reverend Michael Fagun.

Fagun, consecrated bishop in October 1971, retired this year after attaining the mandatory age of 75.