The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District and the Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume, on Thursday, described as embarrassing the action of some senators who saw off the Service Chiefs after their screening and confirmation.
Ndume lambasted his fellow senators for the action stating that it was wrong for the senators to see off Service Chiefs after screening them.
“Seeing visitors off from the Chamber after Screening, very embarrassing”, Senator Ndume, said.
Recall that the Chief of Defence staff nominee, Major General Christopher Musa, and the three other officers nominated as Service Chiefs had appeared before the Senate, on Thursday for screening, which was held behind closed doors.
The Service Chiefs briefed the Senate on their career progression and pledged to meet national expectation of ensuring security and defending the Nation’sterritorial integrity when confirmed.
The service chiefs confirmed are Maj. Gen. C.G Musa (Chief of Defence Staff), Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla (Chief of Naval Staff), AVM H.B Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff), IGP Kayode Egbetokun (Acting Inspector-General of Police), and Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye (Chief of Defense Intelligence).
Tinubu, on 19 June, 2022, sacked the former service chiefs and appointed new ones to replace them.
Before the confirmation of the Service Chiefs, the Senate went into a closed door session where the Senators engaged them for almost two hours.
The Service Chiefs were said to have arrived the National Assembly Complex at about 10.00am for the appointment that was slated for 11.00am.
On their arrival, they stayed outside the Chamber until the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabío acknowledged their presence during the plenary.
The Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, moved a motion for the commencement of their confirmation.
On the motion, the Senate President suspended Order 60 in the Senate Standing Orders 2022, as Amended to enable the Chamber to attend to them.
“That the Senate do consider the request of Mr President and Commander-in -Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the confirmation of the nomination of Service Chiefs.” Opeyemi said.
With the observation of Opeyemi, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on National Assembly Matters( Senate), Senator Abdullahi Gumel, invited the Service Chiefs to the hallowed chamber.
The Service Chiefs were given two minutes each for their open introduction before the Chamber was dissolved into a Committee of the whole behind closed doors at 12. 42pm.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of the new Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs.
The request was contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Akpabio who read the letter during Plenary, said that the request was in line with the Act establishing the Armed Forces.