The Senate on Wednesday commenced the screening of the newly appointed Service Chiefs nominated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The nominees, accompanied by their families and senior military officers, arrived at the National Assembly complex early in the day.
They were ushered into the Senate chamber by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Basheer Lado.
Senate Suspends Rule to Allow Screening
Proceedings began after the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion to suspend Order 12 on floor privileges, enabling the Senate to admit “strangers” into the chamber and resolve into a Committee of the Whole for the screening process.
The motion was seconded by the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Osita Ngwu, and was subsequently approved by the Senate.
Nominees Face Lawmakers
Those presented for screening include the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke; and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas.
Before the formal questioning began, Senator Bamidele proposed that since General Oluyede had earlier been screened for the position of Chief of Army Staff, he should lead the team as “class captain.” The motion, again seconded by Senator Ngwu, was approved by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Oluyede Speaks on Security Challenges
Taking the podium, General Oluyede described his previous tenure as Chief of Army Staff as “both challenging and rewarding.”
He highlighted funding constraints as one of the major obstacles facing the Armed Forces, stressing that limited resources have made it difficult to sustain the fight against insurgents and bandits.
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“We know the resources are not enough. The enablers are not enough. It makes it difficult to prosecute the fight against bandits and terrorists,” Oluyede said.
He also advocated for local production of military hardware to reduce dependence on expensive imported equipment, noting that developing indigenous capability was essential for long-term security sustainability.
Call for Stronger Police Force
Oluyede further called for the strengthening of the Nigeria Police Force, noting that the military has been forced to perform duties constitutionally assigned to the police.
“At present, the military is doing some of the work the police are supposed to do,” he stated.
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Akpabio, after listening to his remarks, requested that Oluyede be allowed to “take a bow and go,” in recognition of his prior screening and approval by the Senate as Chief of Army Staff.
The request received unanimous support from the lawmakers.
The screening of the other nominees continued as the Senate resumed plenary.
Background
President Tinubu had earlier forwarded the names of the new Service Chiefs to the Senate for confirmation, following a shake-up in the leadership of the Armed Forces.
The replacement of the new Service Chiefs came amid rising speculation over an alleged coup plot within some military circles, a claim the Defence Headquarters has since dismissed as false.
Details later…
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
