The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Major General, Waidi Shaibu, as the new Chief of Army Staff, with a directive to “take a bow” and assume office without delay.
Naijaonpoint reports that Shaibu’s confirmation came less than an hour after the chamber cleared General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, marking the continuation of the screening process for President Bola Tinubu’s newly appointed service chiefs.
The confirmation exercise, held at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, was conducted under tight security as lawmakers combined closed and open sessions to vet the nominees.
Presiding over the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the screening as a constitutional duty aimed at ensuring that only the most competent and patriotic officers lead Nigeria’s military.
“There is no need to ask them too many questions because we will be having a closed-door session with them,” Akpabio told his colleagues.
Speaking during the session, Senator Isah Jubrin (Kogi East) vouched for Shaibu’s competence and character, stressing that his humility and professionalism make him fit for the position.
Jubrin said, “The officer is well known to me. I have known him for 30 years. Shaibu is humble and takes his job very seriously. I want to believe that is an asset.
“I believe he has what it takes to move Nigeria out of the challenges the country is experiencing today.”
The Senate’s confirmation of both Shaibu and Oluyede signals its resolve to expedite the approval of all service chiefs nominated by President Tinubu as part of his broader effort to overhaul Nigeria’s security leadership and strengthen the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other threats across the country.
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