Senate Confirms Oluyede As Chief Of Defence Staff

The Senate has confirmed General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff during the screening exercise for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly nominated service chiefs.

Oluyede’s confirmation came less than an hour after he and other nominees arrived at the National Assembly complex in Abuja under heavy security.

Welcoming the nominees to the chamber, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described the screening as a constitutional duty to ensure only capable officers are entrusted with national security.

Akpabio said, “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. On behalf of the entire Senate, I congratulate you on your well-deserved appointments and commend you for the years of dedicated service you have rendered to our great nation.”

He explained that the exercise was part of the Senate’s oversight role to guarantee discipline and professionalism in the Armed Forces.

READ MORE:

• Alleged $6b Mambila Project: Agunloye Reduced FG Equity Participation Without  Approval – Witness
• Dangote Seals US$4.2bn Gas Deal with China’s GCL Group to Power Its Ethiopian Fertilizer Megaproject
• Alleged N8.7bn Fraud: EFCC Witnesses Reveal Bank Transactions Linking Malami’s Wife, Son 
• APC National Convention: Media Key to Promoting Renewed Hope Agenda – Information Minister
• President Tinubu Swears In Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of State for Finance

The screening followed a letter from President Tinubu, read during Tuesday’s plenary, urging the Red Chamber to give “expeditious consideration” to the appointments.

Those listed include:

Gen. Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff

Maj. Gen. Waheedi Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff

Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke – Chief of Air Staff

Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Undiendeye – Chief of Defence Intelligence

The exercise comes just days after Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the nominees at the Presidential Villa, his first engagement with the new military hierarchy following last week’s sweeping shake-up.

According to the Presidency, the appointments are part of broader efforts to “strengthen the national security architecture” and enhance coordination among security agencies.

Tinubu had also praised the immediate past service chiefs for their “patriotic service and leadership,” while charging the new appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them by upholding professionalism, vigilance, and unity within the Armed Forces.