By Modupe Gbadeyanka
President Muhammadu Buhari has finally written to the National Assembly (NASS), seeking the confirmation of the service chiefs he recently nominated.
The President had on Tuesday, January 26, 2021, announced the replacement of the former service chiefs, who had stayed far beyond their tenures.
The action was taken after several Nigerians, including the lawmakers at NASS had called for the sacking of the officers because of the growing rate of insecurity in the country.
Those who left the positions were General Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff; Lt-General Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff; Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas, the Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff.
They were replaced by Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.
After Mr Buhari’s announcement on Tuesday, which saw the service chiefs retiring from the military, he was criticised for not seeking the approval of the parliament before naming the replacements.
One of his spokesmen, Mr Femi Adesina, did not help matters when he said the President was empowered by the constitution to take the action he took.
It would be recalled that a lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo, who is the current Minister of State for Labour and Employment, had taken the federal government to court some years ago on the appointment of service chiefs.
At the Federal High Court, he obtained a judgment in his favour which said service chiefs can only be nominated by the President as the power to confirm them rests on the parliament.
The present government was challenged to do the right thing and on Friday, an aide to Mr Buhari on the legislative arm of government, Mr Babajide Omoworare, issued a statement to say the names of the service chiefs have been forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
According to him, the President communicated the appointment of the quartet through a letter dated January 27, 2021, to the Senate President, Mr Ahmad Lawan, in accordance with Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
He said his boss did not bypass the National Assembly as being feared, claiming that, “Before this administration, confirmation of service chiefs were not sought and obtained from the National Assembly in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap. A.20 LFN.”
“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 July 1, 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,” he further stated.
Business Post reports that on Wednesday, Mr Buhari held a meeting with the new service chiefs for the first time at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
