President Muhammadu Buhari says has communicated the appointment of the Service Chiefs to the National Assembly, NASS, and sought the confirmation of the said appointment by the Senate, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on NASS matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare has disclosed.
Constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana had posited that President Buhari could not appointed new service chiefs without the confirmation of the National Assembly.
However, Omoworare on Friday, said Buhari communicated with the Senate President through a letter dated 27th January 2021, in furtherance to section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
He further said that fears expressed in some quarters that the president had “bypassed” the National Assembly in the process of the appointment of the Service Chiefs, was misplaced.
“Mr President, upon nomination for the appointments, sought confirmation of the Senate for the appointment of Major General Lucky Irabor, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao as Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff respectively, vide his aforementioned letter.
“It is on record that this same procedure was adopted when the immediate past Service Chiefs were appointed. Upon announcement of the appointment of the then Service Chiefs – Major General Abayomi Olonisakin (Chief of Defence Staff), Major General Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Ibok-Efe Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff), Mr. President had written the 8th Senate on 14th July 2015 for confirmation. Whilst the correspondence was read on the floor of the Senate on 28th July 2015, consideration and confirmation of the appointments was carried out at the Committee of the Whole on 4th August 2015,” Omoworare said.
