Senate Confirms Newly Appointed Service Chiefs

The Senate yesterday screened President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees and confirmed their appointments as service chiefs. The four nominees are: General Abayomi Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff); Major-General Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff); Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff); and Air Vice-Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff.) Rising from the five-hour closed door screening session, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the nominees have been screened and confirmed.

According to him, the appointments were based on merit. Congratulating the nominees, Saraki said their appointments came at a very challenging moment in the nation’s history when it is being confronted with insurgency and oil theft. He charged them to live above board in the war against insurgency so that in their tenure, the nation would witness victory over the Boko Haram sect and other criminal activities.

Noting that the four service chiefs were born in 1960s, he charged them to bring their innovations and expertise to bear on the discharge of their duties. The appointment of the military chiefs was first announced by President Buhari on July 13. Consequently, the Senate fixed Wednesday last week for their screening and confirmation.

The exercise was, however, moved to the next day as declared by Saraki. Yet, the appearance of the service chiefs was again shifted till yesterday, Monday.

It was gathered that the initial postponement was to allow the President of the Senate as well as the newly appointed service chiefs attend the formal disengagement of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, from service, which was scheduled for 9 am on that day. Saraki had, on that day, read President Buhari’s letter seeking Senate’s confirmation of the appointments.

According to him, the letter to confirm the appointments was in accordance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, 2004.

Culled from Guardian