The House of Representatives has commenced the screening of Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), following a formal request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his confirmation as the substantive army chief.
Oluyede appeared before the House Committee on Defence and Army on Tuesday to address lawmakers and outline his qualifications for the position. The screening session comes weeks after his appointment as acting COAS on October 30, 2024, following the illness and eventual death of his predecessor, Taoreed Lagbaja.
In his address, Oluyede highlighted his extensive military career, spanning over three decades. Before his current role, he served as the 56th Commander of the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1992.
He attained the rank of major general in 2020 and was a coursemate of the late Lagbaja in the 39th Regular Course.
“My exposure to national security issues at junior, middle, and senior levels has prepared me adequately for this assignment,” Oluyede told the committee.
“In the past five years, I have served at the senior and management level in the Nigerian Army and have been involved in the operations of the service. I cannot completely distance myself from the successes and setbacks of our great army.”
Describing his nomination as a privilege, Oluyede pledged to drive positive changes within the Nigerian Army to enhance its ability to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities.
Babajimi Benson, Chairman of the Defence Committee, emphasized the importance of integrity and troop welfare for the COAS role, noting that these attributes are critical for effective leadership.
Following the address, the lawmakers moved into an executive session to deliberate on Oluyede’s confirmation.
He was accompanied by senior military officers, including Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff.
