By Andy Asemota
The request of President Muhammadu Buhari for screening and confirmation of the new Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of the Federation by the Senate has suffered unforeseen setback.
Similarly, the prayer of the President for expeditious screening and confirmation of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff and former Service Chiefs as non – career ambassadors designate has also been shifted in the Red Chamber on Tuesday.
It will be recalled that the President had written two separate letters to the Senate through the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, seeking the confirmation of the new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Leo Irabor, including the new Service Chiefs: Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Ishiaka Amao,in compliance with provision of section 18 subsection one of the Armed Forces Act of 2004, laws of Nigeria.
Buhari is also seeking the screening and confirmation of the appointment of the erstwhile service chiefs: Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (retd), former Chief of Defence Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok-Ekwe (retd), former Chief of Naval Staff; Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd), former Chief of Air Staff and Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), ex- Chief of Army Staff, as non – career ambassadors designate.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, announced after the letters were read at the plenary on Tuesday that “it’s the practice or convention that when we lose any member of the National Assembly, whether in the Senate or the House of Representatives, we suspend the business of the day and all legislative activities within or outside the chamber as well.”
Other requests of the President that suffered similar postponement, perhaps till tomorrow, Wednesday, 10th February, 2021, included the confirmation of the appointment of the Auditor General of the Federation as well as some members of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, and the Nigerian Law Reform Commission respectively.
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