President Muhammadu Buhari has written formally to the Senate for the confirmation of the appointment of the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and service chiefs.
The President in the confirmation letter dated January 27, 2021 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, requested for Senate confirmation of the appointment of 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.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare, who made this disclosure on Friday in a release titled “Buhari seeks National Assembly’s confirmation of Service Chiefs “, said the President was seeking the upper chamber’s approval of the service Chiefs in line with provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has debunked allegation making the rounds that President Muhammadu Buhari bypassed the National Assembly in the recent appointment of new service chiefs.
Some analysts and public commentators, just hours after Buhari named the new Service Chiefs on Tuesday, had accused him of making the appointments without seeking legislative approval.
However, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Babajide Omoworare, on Friday, the Presidency said Buhari had, through a letter to the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, communicated his action to the National Assembly on Wednesday.
It, however, further pointed out because the National Assembly would not be in session until February 9, 2021 the official communication from the President had not been read to the Senate.
It cited the precedence of the process as it was in 2015, when the recently retired service chiefs were appointed.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has communicated the appointment of the Service Chiefs to the National Assembly and has sought for the confirmation of the said appointment by the Senate, through his letter to the Senate President dated 27th January 2021. This was done in furtherance of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
“Contrary to fears expressed in some quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari has ‘bypassed’ the National Assembly in the process of the appointment of the Service Chiefs and that he has no intention of seeking consideration and confirmation of their appointment, Mr. President, upon nomination for appointment, sought confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of 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, vide his aforementioned letter.
“It is on record that this same procedure was adopted when the immediate past Service Chiefs were appointed. Upon announcement of the appointment of the then Service Chiefs – Major General Abayomi Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Ibok-Efe Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff), Mr. President had written the 8th Senate on 14th July 2015 for confirmation. Whilst the correspondence was read on the floor of the Senate on 28th July 2015, consideration and confirmation of the appointments was carried out at the Committee of the Whole on 4th August 2015.
“It will be recalled that the National Assembly will only resume plenary sessions on 9th February 2021, when hopefully Mr. President’s communication for consideration and confirmation of the nominations for appointment of the Service Chiefs would be undertaken.
The Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated this in a piece on Friday, titled, ‘Inside PMB’s First Meeting With New Service Chiefs’.
Adesina said the President assured the new service chiefs of his prayers and support, adding that “victory comes from the divine powers”.
But human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has argued that no level of prayers can win the Boko Haram war, noting that the Federal Government must equip the military to function optimally.
The new service chiefs are Major-General Leo Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao as Chief of Air Staff.
The new service chiefs met with the President on Wednesday at Aso Villa in Abuja and Nigerians expect them to hit the ground running very fast.
Adesina in the piece quoted Buhari as telling the service chiefs, “You know the stage we were in 2015, and you know the stage we are now, and the undertakings we made.
“In terms of equipment and other logistics, we are doing our best, and will do more. Give officers you can trust command, and support them. Respect seniority and intellectualism, but also use people who can deliver, those who show courage and leadership qualities.
“I will be praying for you. I assure you of that.”
