The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs nominated by President Bola Tinubu.
Before their confirmation, the Senate suspended its order 1b and rule 1b, to make provision for the admittance of strangers into its chamber.
Those admitted into the chamber included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Abdullahi Gumel, the nominated service chiefs, and others.
Thereafter, the service chiefs took turns to highlight their career profiles and professional experiences, before the senate dissolved into a close session that lasted for three hours for screening of the nominees.
The confirmation came after over two hours of screening behind closed doors.
Subsequently, Senate confirmed: Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Taoheed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff and AVM Hassan Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.
The top military officers had been expected to brief the upper legislative chamber on strategies for tackling insecurity across the country. But Senate President Godswill Akpabio, upon resumption of plenary, said the nominees answered questions on defence-related matters and other topical issues.
Before the screening, which was done by the Committee of the Whole, the chiefs, upon arrival at the Red Chamber, were given two minutes, each, to introduce themselves to the lawmakers.
BRANDPOWER recalls that President Tinubu had, on Tuesday, this week, asked the Senate to confirm appointment of the new officials. The request was transmitted through a letter, dated July 5, 2023, and addressed to the President of the Senate, which he (Akpabio) read on the floor, same day.
