By Atoyebi Nike
The Senate has rescheduled the screening of newly appointed Service Chiefs to Wednesday, October 29, reversing its earlier plan to conduct the exercise next week.
The decision followed a letter from President Bola Tinubu seeking Senate confirmation of General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs. The correspondence was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary.
Akpabio said the adjustment was necessary to ensure the new military leadership assumes duty without delay. He directed the Committee of the Whole to handle the screening on the new date.
President Tinubu, in his letter, explained that the nominations were made in line with Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. He urged lawmakers to give prompt approval to maintain effective coordination in the nation’s security operations.
The President recently carried out a major shake-up in the military hierarchy, replacing General Christopher Musa with General Olufemi Oluyede, a former Chief of Army Staff, while retaining Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Akpabio appealed to Senators to confirm all the Service Chiefs including the Chiefs of Army, Naval, and Air Staff at once to prevent any disruption in security management.
“Distinguished colleagues, in view of the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff, I plead that we consider and clear all the Service Chiefs at the same time, so they can proceed to work without delay,” Akpabio said before the Senate unanimously agreed to the motion.
