Senate orders panel to screen new service chiefs, ambassadorial nominees
- Ahmad Lawan, the Senate president, has ordered the screening of the new service chiefs
- This was disclosed on Wednesday, February 10, during a plenary at the upper legislative chamber, Abuja
- Lawan also asked the committee to screen the immediate past service chiefs for ambassadorial positions
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
The Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday, referred the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for the confirmation of new service chiefs, to the joint committee on Army, Navy, and Air force for necessary screening.
Legit.ng reports that Lawan gave the committee two weeks to carry out their assignments and report to Senate in plenary.
The appointees for confirmation are Maj. Gen. Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea lrabor – Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru – Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo – Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka O. Amao – Chief of Air Staff.
Source: Twitter
They are to replace the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
Lawan also directed the committee on foreign affairs to screen the immediate past service chiefs who had been appointed by Buhari as career ambassadors.
The panel was asked to conclude its assignments and submit its report within two weeks.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Peoples Democratic Party said it was abominable for President Muhammadu Buhari to nominate the immediate past service chiefs for ambassadorial appointments.
It was reported that the party accused the president of trying to use the appointment as a ploy to shield the former military officers from prosecution over their alleged role in extrajudicial killings in the country.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Kola Ologbondiyan, the spokesperson for the party in a statement on Thursday, February 4, urged the Nigerian Senate to reject the nominations.
He claimed the Buhari administration was attempting to use the ambassadorial nominations to confer diplomatic immunity on the former service chiefs.
The PDP called on Nigerians to also reject the ambassadorial nominations and demand for the accused former commanders to face the law.
In a related report, youths under the auspice of the Congress of Progressive Yoruba Youths (CPYY) on Friday, February 5, commended the nomination of the immediate past service chiefs as non-career ambassadors by President Buhari.
The youths described the past service chiefs as worthy ambassadors who have been nominated to push the country forward.
The youth group said the former service chiefs are truly Nigeria’s ambassadors and that their nomination is a reward for excellence and meritorious service to the country.
Source: Legit.ng
