The Senate on Wednesday officially confirmed General Olufemi Oluyede as Nigeria’s new Chief of Defence Staff following a comprehensive screening session held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Oluyede’s confirmation came barely an hour after he and other service chief nominees arrived at the Red Chamber amid heightened security presence.
Welcoming the nominees, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated that the exercise was part of the legislature’s constitutional responsibility to ensure the appointment of only competent and patriotic officers to safeguard the nation.
“Distinguished colleagues, it is with great pleasure that I welcome our newly appointed Service Chiefs to the hallowed chamber of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Akpabio said. “On behalf of the entire Senate, I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend you for your years of dedicated service to our great nation.”
He added that the screening reflected the Senate’s oversight mandate to promote professionalism and discipline within the armed forces, stressing that the interaction was designed to strengthen national security and ensure unity within the military.
Okay News reports that General Oluyede, accompanied by senior military officers, arrived at the National Assembly around 10 a.m. The nominees were screened by the Committee of the Whole, chaired by the Senate President, before their formal confirmation.
President Bola Tinubu had, in a letter read during Tuesday’s plenary, urged the Senate to give “expeditious consideration” to the confirmation of the nominees.
The list included General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, 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 confirmation comes just a week after President Tinubu met privately with the new service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, following a major shake-up in the military hierarchy.
According to the Presidency, the appointments reflect Tinubu’s strategic efforts to reinforce the nation’s security framework and enhance coordination among the military and intelligence agencies.
The President also commended the outgoing service chiefs for their “patriotic service and leadership,” while charging their successors to uphold professionalism, integrity, and unity in the discharge of their duties.
