Here are the stories that drove conversation this week:

Bayelsa Assembly members approve monthly life pension for lawmakers

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Wednesday approved monthly life pensions for all present and past members of the legislature. The controversial bill, sponsored by the leader of the House, Peter Akpe, which was passed on the floor of the House, approved N500,000 post-service monthly pension to the speakers of the assembly, while deputy speakers will receive N200,000. Members are to get N100,000.

The bill specifically provided that former lawmakers, including persons of Bayelsa origin who served in the old Rivers State, would enjoy life pensions for their services in the state as applicable to former presidents, vice-presidents, governors and deputy governors across the country.

Saraki challenges Tinubu over budget padding allegations

Senate President Bukola Saraki has challenged the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to substantiate his allegation that he and other lawmakers have the habit of padding budgets. Saraki, in a statement by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said Mr Tinubu’s attack was unfounded and not predicated on facts.

The Senate President was reacting to a statement credited to Mr Tinubu, where he alleged that Mr Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have been padding Nigeria’s budget since 2015.

Doctors free to leave the country, we have enough – Ngige

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, says doctors who feel they want to relocate in search of greener pastures are free to do so as the nation has enough medical personnel.

Ngige said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday. The minister was responding to a question on brain drain and the deliberate recruitment of Nigerian doctors by foreign embassies in Nigeria to the detriment of the nation’s health sector.

Buhari inaugurates reconstructed Ayinke House

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday unveiled the newly reconstructed Institute of Maternal And Child Health popularly known as Ayinke House located within the premises of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja, describing it as a critical and timely intervention by the State Government in the health sector.

The President, who landed at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja at 10: 45am, arrived at Ayinke House about 15 minutes later, after which he unveiled the project, and also embarked on a comprehensive tour of the facility.

Your performance is satisfactory – Buhari tells Ambode

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday; he gave the Lagos State governor, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode a pass mark for the audacious projects he has delivered to the people and congratulated him for his giant strides in the state.

He said: “The Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has performed satisfactorily in delivering governance to the people of Lagos and we should all congratulate him for working for the good people of Lagos State.”

Christian Chukwu receives $50,000 cheque from Femi Otedola

Nigerian businessman, philanthropist, and chairman of Forte Oil PLC, Femi Otedola, Wednesday presented a cheque of $50,000, to the former coach of the super Eagles, Christian Chukwu. This is help Chukwu take care of his medical expenses. The cheque was presented to Chukwu on Wednesday morning in Enugu by Philip Akinola, the COO of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, one of Otedola’s companies.

I’m Nigerian by birth – Atiku

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the February 23 presidential election, said he is a Nigerian by birth and was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa by Nigerian parents and he is, therefore, a citizen of Nigeria by birth.

The former vice-president said this in a joint reply he filed with his party to the response filed by the APC against their petition before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja

IGP orders speedy investigation into Gombe killings

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has ordered for speedy and comprehensive investigation into the Easter day accident in Gombe wherein eleven people died. Eleven persons were reportedly killed including the driver of the vehicle, a personnel of the NSCDC, who rammed into a procession celebrating Easter on April 21, along Gombe-Biu road.

We have depreciated Boko Haram’s efficacy – FG

The Federal Government on Monday reiterated its position that it has “largely depreciated the efficiency and efficacy of Boko Haram” insurgents.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, gave the government position when he featured on a live TVC News Programme, “This Morning,” monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Mohammed said that for anyone to correctly assess the administration’s performance in fighting insecurity, particularly Boko Haram, the individual must understand what the situation was before the inception of the administration in 2015.

Three governors, ministers, in race for Buhari’s cabinet

Ahead of the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office, the race for cabinet appointments has begun. A former Military Administrator, three outgoing governors and 15 ministers are jostling for cabinet seats. There were indications last night that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) may be zoned to the North-Central in favour of a Christian candidate.

Besides, there is pressure on the President to revert to a 42-man cabinet structure as part of his pledge of inclusiveness.