The Senate on Wednesday confirmed General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff, marking the beginning of the screening exercise for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly nominated service chiefs.
Naijaonpoint reports that Oluyede’s confirmation came less than an hour after he and other nominees arrived at the National Assembly complex in Abuja under heavy security.
Welcoming the nominees to the chamber, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described the screening as a constitutional duty to ensure only capable officers are entrusted with national security.
Akpabio said, “Distinguished colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our newly appointed Service Chiefs to the hallowed chamber of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On behalf of the entire Senate, I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend you for the years of dedicated service you have rendered to our great nation.”
He explained that the exercise was part of the Senate’s oversight role to guarantee discipline and professionalism in the Armed Forces.
The screening followed a letter from President Tinubu, read during Tuesday’s plenary, urging the Red Chamber to give “expeditious consideration” to the appointments.
Those listed include:
Gen. Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff
Maj. Gen. Waheedi Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff
Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke – Chief of Air Staff
Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye – Chief of Defence Intelligence
The exercise comes just days after Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the nominees at the Presidential Villa, his first engagement with the new military hierarchy following last week’s sweeping shake-up.
According to the Presidency, the appointments are part of broader efforts to “strengthen the national security architecture” and enhance coordination among security agencies.
Tinubu had also praised the immediate past service chiefs for their “patriotic service and leadership,” while charging the new appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, vigilance, and unity within the Armed Forces.
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