The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Olufemi Oluyede, a Lieutenant General, as the substantive chief of army staff.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced Oluyede’s confirmation after he was cleared by the senators through voice votes during the plenary on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
The upper chamber approved the appointment after considering the report of its Committee on Army, presented by its Chairman, Abdulaziz Yar’adua.
Yar’adua said the committee was impressed with the high level of understanding, achievements and excellence stated in the credential of the nominee.
He said the nomination of Oluyede is in line with Section 217, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
He also said that the nomination is in accordance with the provisions of Section 18, Subsection 1 of the Armed Forces Act.
He explained that “the nominee possesses the required competence, experience and educational qualifications to be conferred with Chief of Army Staff.
Yar’adua said the nominee had been cleared by the DSS, and went through the correct process of promotion till date, qualifying him to occupy the position of Chief of Army Staff
He said the committee had diligently and meticulously conducted the screening of the nominee and was satisfied with his conduct, competence, experience and educational qualification and urged the Senate to confirm the nomination.
The Senate, thereafter, confirmed the appointment of Oluyede as substantive COAS.
The Senate Committee had last Wednesday screened Oluyede, behind closed doors.
Sen. Yar’adua, before the screening, recalled that the senate, had, at its sitting on Tuesday, read President Bola Tinubu’s request urging them to confirm Oluyede’s appointment as chief of army staff.
Yar’adua said that the screening was to bring to bear Oluyede’s professional skills, experiences and expertise. This , he said, was based on his strategic knowledge and vision toward defending Nigeria from external aggression, maintaining its territorial integrity and securing its borders from violation on land.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the acting army chief on 30 October following the illness of Taoreed Lagbaja. Lagbaja, a lieutenant general, however, died on 5 November.
