Senate confirms appointment of Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs

Published by

2 years ago

The Senate confirmed the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs forwarded to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio who announced the confirmation after about three hours closed door on Thurday, said that the nominees answered questions on national security and strategies to tackle insecurity across the country.

The Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs arrived at the National Assembly at around 1. 14 pm. for the screening.

The Senate had earlier suspended relevant rules to allow the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters ( Senate) , Senator Abdullah Gumel to bring them into the Chamber.

Upon arrival in the red chamber, the Service Chiefs were given two minutes each to introduce themselves before the screening exercise went into closed session because of security reason.

The Service Chiefs who were screen and confirmed are: Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. Taoheed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admirral Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff and AVM Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.

It would be recalled that President Tinubu had on Tuesday this week, asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of the new Service Chiefs.

He made the request in a letter dated July 5, 2023, and addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, which he read on the floor of the red Chamber at plenary.

Meanwhile some Senators, especially Senator Garba Musa Maidoki (PDP Kebi South) had vowed that the screening exercise of the Service Chiefs would be thorough and non of them will be given the privilege to take a bow and go.