By Atoyebi Nike
The Senate will today (Wednesday) screen and possibly confirm the newly appointed service chiefs nominated by President Bola Tinubu as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework.
Tinubu’s request was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary, urging lawmakers to give “expeditious consideration” to the nominees.
The President named Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Waidi 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 Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The Senate Committee of the Whole is scheduled to conduct the screening and confirmation today.
This development follows Tinubu’s closed-door meeting with the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, his first formal interaction with the military hierarchy since last Friday’s reshuffle. The Presidency described the appointments as part of broader efforts to strengthen national security.
Tinubu also commended the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and other retired officers for their service, urging the new appointees to uphold professionalism, unity, and vigilance.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, on Tuesday, received the new military chiefs in his office during their first official visit following their appointments.
The changes in military leadership came amid unconfirmed reports of a failed coup attempt and the detention of senior officers, which the Defence Headquarters has dismissed as false. However, public speculation has continued.
Meanwhile, the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to provide greater transparency regarding the alleged coup rumours and the reasons behind the sudden reshuffle.
