Buhari seeks Senate confirmation of service chiefs appointment

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of the newly named service chiefs.

The presidency on Tuesday had named Lucky Irabor as the chief of defence staff; Ibrahim Attahiru as chief of army staff; Auwal Gambo as chief of naval staff, and Isyaka Amao as chief of air staff.

In a statement on Friday by Babajide Omoworare, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Buhari asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of the security nominees in a letter dated January 27.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has communicated the appointment of the service chiefs to the National Assembly and has sought for the confirmation of the said appointment by the Senate through his letter to the Senate President dated 27th January 2021.

“This was done in furtherance of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,” Omoworare said in the statement.

“Contrary to fears expressed in some quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari has ‘bypassed’ the National Assembly in the process of appointment of the service chiefs and that he has no intention of seeking consideration and confirmation of their appointment, Mr President upon nomination for appointment 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

“It will be recalled that the National Assembly will only resume plenary sessions on 9th February, 2021 when hopefully Mr President’s communication for consideration and confirmation of the nomination for appointment of the service chiefs would be undertaken.”

Before the Buhari administration, the appointment of service chiefs was not subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.

Omoworare said the President was acting in accordance with a 2013 court order mandating the executive to seek legislative confirmation in the appointment of service chiefs.

He said, “We are aware that in Keyamo Vs. President & Ors, the Federal High Court set aside the Armed Forces Modification Order 2008 (purportedly made under Section 315 [2) of the Constitution) on 1st July 2013 and ruled that the confirmation of the National Assembly must be sought for the appointment of the service chiefs. We are in compliance with the spirit and letters of both the statute and case law.”