Buhari extends tenure of service chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the tenure of the country’s service chiefs.

Mansur Dan-Alli, the minister of defence, communicated the tenure extension in a statement released on Monday by Tukur Gusau, his public relations officer.

The service chiefs are Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of defence staff; Tukur Yusufu Buratai, chief of army staff, Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, chief of naval staff; and Sadique Baba Abubakar, chief of air staff.

This would be the second time Buhari will extend the tenures of Olonisakin, Ibas and Abubakar. They were supposed to have retired in December 2016.

Buratai’s tenure would expire in 2018.

According to the defence minister, Buhari approved the extension after reviewing the efforts of the service chiefs in combating the insurgency in the north-east and tackling the security challenges in the Niger Delta.

Gusau explained that extension is pursuant to the powers conferred on the president in section 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and section 09.06 of the harmonised terms and conditions for service for officers (2012) revised.

“The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria his excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, having carefully reviewed the on-going military operations across the nation and the efforts of the chief of defence staff and the service chiefs in the counter insurgency operations in the north-east coupled with the security situation of the Niger Delta region, has graciously approved the extension of tenure of service of general Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the chief of defence staff, lieutenant general Tukur Yusufu Buratai chief of army staff, vice-admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, the chief of naval staff and air marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the chief of air staff,” the statement read.

“The honourable minister of defence Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali therefore congratulate the chief of defence staff and service chiefs for earning the confidence of the president, commander in chief of the armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria leading to their extension of service.”