The Senate, on Wednesday, screened the Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, behind closed doors.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua, before the screening, recalled that the Senate had, at its sitting on Tuesday, read President Bola Tinubu’s request urging them to confirm Oluyede’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff.
Yar’adua commiserated with Oluyede over the death of the late Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja.
He said that Lagbaja made significant strides in improving the welfare of the army and brought innovations, such as the Nigerian Army Aviation.
“It is a known fact that the nation is currently bedevilled by multiplicity of security challenges requiring cogent and urgent solutions.
“I want to use this opportunity to commend the gallantry of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and the armed forces in general for the successes recorded so far in the war against insurgency and other criminalities within the country.
“This they did to the extent that some of them laid their lives for that,” he said.
Yar’adua said that the screening, therefore, tended to bring to bear Oluyede’s professional skills, experiences and expertise.
This, he said, was based on his strategic knowledge and vision toward defending Nigeria from external aggression, maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land.
“Your abilities to offer proposals toward finding solutions to military funding and welfare of personnel will be of interest to this country,” the senator said.
CDS hails NASS over speedy screening of acting COAS
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has commended the National Assembly (NASS) for the speedy screening of the acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede.
Musa gave the commendation in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The CDS, who witnessed the screening process in both chambers, said he was impressed with the manner in which the Senate and House Committees on Army conducted the process.
He assured the National Assembly that Lt.-Gen. Oluyede would bring new vigor and his vast experience to bear in the fight against insecurity if confirmed as substantive Chief of Army Staff.
Musa also pledged that Oluyede would build on the legacy of the late COAS, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja.
He described the prompt action of the NASS as patriotic and apt at this critical time.
The defence chief reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to securing the nation.
“The AFN remains loyal to constituted authority in pursuit of its constitutional roles,” he said.