Screening of new CDS, Service Chiefs, others begins in Senate

▪︎ Committees given two weeks to submit screening reports

The Senate has begun the screening of the newly-appointed Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs presented to it by President Muhammadu Buhari for screening and confirmation.

The Senate on Wednesday referred the names of the Service Chiefs to its Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Airforce and Navy to commence the screening and report back to the Senate in plenary for further legislative actions.

The President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan referred the names to the joint committee after the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi presented the executive communication as stated on the order paper.

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Buhari had in a letter to the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, dated 27th January 2021, said that the screening was being sought in furtherance of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The new Service Chiefs that are being screened are Major General Lucky Irabor, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao as Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff, respectively.

Also referred was the President’s request for the confirmation of General Abayomi Olonisakin (Retd); Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai (Retd); Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas (Rtd); Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar(Retd); and Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman (Retd) as non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Committee on Fireign Affairs led by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, APC, Bauchi North.

Senator Lawan while referring the nomination of Barr. Victor Chinemerem Muruako for appointment as Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission to the Committee on Finance; also referred the nomination of Larry Obinna Chukwu as Commissioner for the Nigerian Law Reform to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The Committees were all given two weeks to report back to the Senate.