The House of Representatives on Thursday confirmed the appointments of the newly nominated service chiefs after adopting the report of the ad-hoc committee chaired by Babajimi Benson, member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency.

Naijaonpoint reports that the Benson-led panel, made up of the House Committees on Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force, had on Wednesday screened General Olufemi Oluyede (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Waidi Shaibu (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas (Chief of Naval Staff), and Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke (Chief of Air Staff).

Presenting the report during plenary, the committee recommended that all four officers be confirmed, having “successfully undergone the screening process.”

President Bola Tinubu had announced the new security chiefs last week in a shake-up analysts linked to rumours of a coup plot. The cancellation of Nigeria’s Independence Day military parade further fueled speculations of unrest within the armed forces.

However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the claims, insisting that, “Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President. He is the Commander-in-Chief. He has the power to hire and fire.”

Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over Thursday’s session, put the committee’s recommendations to a voice vote, which was unanimously adopted by members.

The report read in part, “That Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede be confirmed as the Chief of Defence Staff… That Major General Waidi Shaibu be confirmed as the Chief of Army Staff… That Rear Admiral Idi Abbas be confirmed as the Chief of Naval Staff… That Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke be confirmed as the Chief of Air Staff of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Kalu congratulated the newly confirmed service chiefs and charged them to deploy their experience and expertise in tackling the country’s security challenges.

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