Senate Admits Buhari’s Request To Confirm Ex-Service Chiefs As Envoys

President Muhammad Buharii has requested the Senate to confirm the appointments of the former chief of defence staff (CDS), service chiefs, one other, as non-career ambassadors
A letter to that effect from the Presidency to the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, named of the immediate past former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai as some of the nominees.
Others are the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman (rtd).
If finally confirmed, they are to serve as non-career diplomats.
The request was contained in a letter dated February 4, 2021, and read during plenary by the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, immediately after the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings, yesterday.
According to Buhari, the appointment was duly carried out in accordance to Section 171(1),(2)(c) & Sub-Section (4) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The President had on January 26, 2021, announced the termination of the appointments of the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the service chiefs, and named their replacements.
The newly appointed CDS and service chiefs are: Major-General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea lrabor as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao as Chief of Air Staff.
In a related development, the Senate, in its short session, yesterday, also received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm Mr. Aghughu Arhotomhenla Adolphus as Auditor-General of the Federation.
The request was contained in a letter dated January 12, 2021, and read on the floor by the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan.
The request for the confirmation of the appointment of the nominee was pursuant to Section 86(1) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Two other letters to the Senate, dated February 3, 2021, requested the confirmation of Larry Obinna Collins Chukwu as commissioner representing South-East at the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, and Engr. Wakil Bukar as commissioner representing Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states at the Federal Civil Service Commission.
According to him, both requests were made in accordance with the provision of Section 2(2) of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act; and Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja