Buhari writes senate on screening of service chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of the service chiefs to the senate for confirmation.

In a letter read by Bukola Saraki, senate president, on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Buhari said he was seeking the approval of the senate to comply with the extant laws of the country.

“In compliance with Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act (CAP820) laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004, I hereby forward the names of the underlisted officers for the kind confirmation of the federal republic of Nigeria,” he said.

The service chiefs to be confirmed by the senate, as listed in the letter, are Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin as chief of defence staff, Yusuf Tukur Buratai as chief of army staff, Ibot Ekwe-Ebas as chief of naval staff, and Sadiq Baba Abubabar as chief of air staff.

The service chiefs were appointed on July 13.

The senate president had said an ad hoc committee would be set up to consider the appointment of the service chiefs, but until the senate adjourned members of the committee were not announced.