The Senate will on Wednesday screen the newly appointed service chiefs nominated by President Bola Tinubu as part of ongoing efforts to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture.
Tinubu, in a letter read by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during Tuesday’s plenary, urged lawmakers to give “expeditious consideration” to the appointments.
The President named General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff; Major General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Major General Emmanuel Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Akpabio referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for screening and confirmation, scheduled to hold on Wednesday.
The development comes barely 48 hours after Tinubu met the new service chiefs behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja his first formal engagement with the military hierarchy since last Friday’s sweeping reshuffle.
The Presidency had said the shake-up was “in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government to strengthen the national security architecture.”
Tinubu also expressed appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and other retired officers for their “patriotic service and dedicated leadership.”
He charged the new appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them by promoting professionalism, vigilance, and unity within the Armed Forces.
The administration believes the new appointments, once confirmed, will reinforce inter-agency coordination and bolster the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges nationwide.
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