The Senate will on Wednesday screen the newly appointed Service Chiefs following President Bola Tinubu’s request for legislative confirmation.
Tinubu’s letter seeking the National Assembly’s approval was read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary.
The President urged the lawmakers to give “expeditious consideration” to the appointments, which he said were aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture and improving coordination among the Armed Forces.
Those nominated for confirmation include General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye as Chief of Defence Intelligence.
Akpabio announced that the screening and confirmation would be conducted by the Committee of the Whole, with proceedings scheduled for Wednesday.
The nomination follows a major shake-up in the military hierarchy announced by the Presidency on Friday.
In the statement, Tinubu expressed appreciation to the outgoing Service Chiefs, including General Christopher Musa, for their service and leadership, while charging the new appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them.
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses his profound appreciation to the outgoing Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership.
“He charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to further enhance professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” the statement read.
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The restructuring in the top military ranks comes amid growing public concern over insecurity and speculation about internal tensions within the military.
However, there has been no official confirmation linking the changes to recent reports of an alleged coup plot.
Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye, who serves as Chief of Defence Intelligence, is the only Service Chief who retained his position.
