Senate Screens, Confirms Service Chiefs

Service Chiefs

The Senate, yesterday, screened and confirmed Service Chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari after a closed door session which lasted four hours.

Upon confirmation, the Senate charged them to work assiduously on the procurement procedures in the Armed Forces as part of moves to check corruption. They were also charged by the Senate to provide a new direction and leadership to the armed forces required at the time of the country’s history to nip in the bud, the security challenge where members of Boko Haram has continually engaged in massive killing and wanton destruction of property in the North-East.

Those screened by the Senators, yesterday, for four hours from 11.20 am to 4.05 pm were Major-General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General T.Y. Buratai as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.

The Senate had broken into a closed door session soon after Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume said: “That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President, C-in-C, for the confirmation of the following nominees for appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs respectively for the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, CAP. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

Speaking after the lawmakers all agreed for the confirmation, Senator Saraki, who hailed the newly appointed Service Chiefs, stressed that their appointment came in due time when insurgency had reached its peak.

“It is clear that their appointment is based on merit and their presence before us today. The appointment as we all see, is coming at a very crucial time with a lot of challenges particularly insurgency in the North-East and some other security issues, for example, the issue of oil theft when they came before us,” Saraki said.

“We hope that during the period of time, their performance will take off the responsibility required. We are all keen to restore the image and reputation of the armed forces. I believe that their confirmation is the beginning of their journey to restore the glory of the armed force in our great nation.”