President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a request to the House of Representatives seeking legislative confirmation of newly appointed heads of the nation’s defence architecture, including the Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs.
The request was contained in two separate letters signed by President Tinubu and read during Wednesday’s plenary by the Speaker of the House, Hon Tajudeen Abbas.
In the first correspondence titled “Appointment of Chief of Defence Staff,” President Tinubu said, “In compliance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap 820, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the House of Representatives the appointment of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff.
“While I hope that the House of Representatives will consider this request expeditiously, please accept, Right Honourable Speaker, the assurances of my highest consideration and best regards.”
In a separate letter, the President wrote, “In compliance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap 820, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the House of Representatives the nominees listed below as Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“They are Chief of Army Staff – Major General Waidi Shuaibu; Chief of Naval Staff – Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, and Chief of Air Staff – Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke.
“While I hope that the House of Representatives will consider and confirm the nominees expeditiously, please accept, Right Honourable Speaker, the assurances of my consideration and best regards.”
Following the reading of the letters, the House resolved to refer the nominations to an ad-hoc screening committee for legislative consideration and confirmation.
Speaker Abbas announced that the screening panel will be chaired by the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, with the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Committees on Army, Navy, and Air Force serving as members.
Given the urgency of the matter and the concurrent confirmation process underway in the Senate, the committee was directed to commence its screening immediately after Wednesday’s plenary.
The Speaker urged the committee to conduct a thorough and expeditious screening exercise in line with legislative procedures and constitutional provisions.
