The senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the substantive chief of army staff (COAS).
The confirmation followed the adoption of the report by the committee on army.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting COAS on October 30 following the illness of a Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja who eventually died on November 5.
The president’s request to confirm Oluyede as the substantive army chief was formally read on the floor of the senate on November 26 and was referred to the army committee.
Presenting the report at the plenary, the chairman of the committee, Mr Abdulaziz Yar’Adua said the committee was impressed with the high level of understanding, achievements, and excellence stated in the credentials of the nominee.
He said the nomination of Oluyede was in line with Section 217, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
He also said that the nomination is in accordance with the provisions of Section 18, Subsection 1 of the Armed Forces Act.
“The nominee possesses the required competence, experience, and educational qualifications to be conferred with chief of army staff,” Yar’Adua stated.
The lawmaker added that the COAS had been cleared by the Department of State Services (DSS).
After considering the report of the committee, the senate president, Mr Godswill Akpabio put the confirmation request to vote and the majority of the senators supported it through voice votes.
Speaking after the confirmation of the appointment, Akpabio expressed the hope that banditry, terrorism and other security challenges in different parts of the country would be reduced with the coming of the new army chief.
