The Senate on Wednesday commenced the screening of the newly nominated Service Chiefs forwarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for confirmation.
Naijaonpoint reports that the nominees, accompanied by their family members and senior officers of the Armed Forces, were ushered into the chamber by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Basheer Lado.
This followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to suspend Order 12 on floor privileges, allowing “strangers” into the chambers and enabling the Senate to resolve into a Committee of the Whole for the screening exercise. The motion was seconded by Senator Osita Ngwu, Deputy Minority Leader.
Those listed for screening and confirmation include:
Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff
Maj. Gen. Waheedi Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff
Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke – Chief of Air Staff
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff
Before the formal questioning began, Senate Leader Bamidele moved that General Oluyede, having earlier been screened for the position of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), be regarded as the “class captain” leading other nominees in the session.
The motion was seconded, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed Oluyede to share his reflections as COAS and his perspective as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
Taking the podium, Oluyede described his tenure as “both challenging and rewarding.”
On challenges, he said, “We know the resources are not enough. The enablers are not enough. It makes it difficult to prosecute the fight against bandits and terrorists.”
He urged Nigeria to develop its own equipment to counter insecurity, given the high cost of importing arms.
He further stated, “There is something special about being a soldier. As a soldier you have to sacrifice your entire life. As an ordinary person, when there is a threat you are expected to retreat, but as a soldier you are expected to go forward.”
Oluyede further stressed the need to reinforce the Nigeria Police Force to fully carry out its constitutional duties.
“At present, the military is doing some of the work the police are supposed to do,” he said.
After his presentation, Akpabio requested that senators allow Oluyede to “take a bow,” noting that he had already been screened and approved in his previous capacity.
The senators unanimously agreed, and Oluyede was excused, paving the way for other nominees to take the floor.
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