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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Senate has rescheduled the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s newly appointed Service Chiefs to Wednesday, October 29, reversing its earlier decision to hold the exercise next week.
The change followed an appeal by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary, citing the urgency of allowing the new military chiefs to resume duty without delay.
Akpabio told his colleagues that the security situation in the country required immediate action, stressing that “they have to start working immediately.”
Lawmakers unanimously endorsed the new date after the Senate President’s appeal, clearing the way for the screening of the five nominees earlier forwarded to the upper chamber by the President for confirmation.
President Tinubu had, in two separate letters to the Senate, requested the confirmation of the new military leadership team. The first letter specifically sought approval for General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff.
In the second communication, President Tinubu asked the Senate to confirm 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.
The Senate had initially referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for screening next week. However, with Tuesday’s decision, the process will now begin earlier than scheduled.
