The Senate has conducted a closed-door screening of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, the acting Chief of Army Staff, for appointment as the substantive COAS.
The screening, which took place on Wednesday, is a step towards Oluyede’s confirmation as the Chief of Army Staff.
According to Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, the screening was conducted in a closed-door session for security reasons. Yar’adua noted that the screening and legal confirmation process of nominees is an important part of legislative engagement.
He added, “It is a known fact that our nation is currently bedeviled with multiplicity of security challenges requiring cogent and urgent solutions.
“May I however, commend the gallantry of the Officers and Men of the AFN for the success recorded so far in the war against terror, curtailing of insurgency and other criminalities within the Country, even to the laying down of their lives.
“This screening exercise intends to bring to bear your professional skills, experiences and expertise based on your strategic security knowledge and vision towards defending Nigeria from external aggression.
“This is being done through maintaining its territorial integrity: securing its borders from violation on land suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order among others.
“Furthermore, your abilities to offer proposal towards finding solutions for military funding and welfare of personnel will be of interest to this Committee.”
The Senate had, on Tuesday, read the request of President Bola Tinubu, seeking the confirmation of Oluyede’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff. Oluyede, a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 39th Regular Course, had served as the 56th Commander of the elite Infantry Corps, based in Jaji, Kaduna, before his appointment as acting Chief of Army Staff.
The development followed the death of Taoreed Lagbaja early in the month.