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The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede is currently being grilled by the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Defence and Army for his confirmation as the substantive Chief of Army Staff
It would be recalled that Mr Oluyede was nominated by the president, Bola Tinubu, as the Acting COAS following the Ill health of the former Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, who later passed away.
Read Also: Senate Prepares to Confirm Oluyede After Private Screening
The screen session was held in public as the nominee read his profile and answered two questions before it was moved to a closed-door session.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee on Defence, said the confirmation hearing is not about the profile of the nominee but interrogating the roadmap for achieving improved security.
“The task before us today is not only to assess the qualifications and vision of the nominee for Chief of Army Staff but also to establish a collaborative roadmap for tackling Nigeria’s security challenges. As a partner in the pursuit of a secure and prosperous Nigeria, this House remains steadfast in its commitment to legislative oversight and support for the Armed Forces,” he said.
Moments before the meeting doors were sealed, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, the APC representative for Katsina Central and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, briefed journalists, noting that the Army Chief’s screening was taking place behind closed doors due to security concerns.
The Chairman, asserting that the National Assembly remains the only branch of government entrusted with the authority to safeguard the peace, order, and governance of the nation, noted, “Therefore, Parliament must ensure it respects, acknowledges, and upholds any law concerning national legislation, institutional mandates, and judicial pronouncements made by courts of competent jurisdiction on matters of national concern.”
He asserted unequivocally that security sector governance is intended to create standards that bolster both state stability and the protection of individuals.
“This is in order to ensure efficiency and drive effectiveness of institutions and their operators in fulfilling their respective roles and responsibilities in the spirit and culture of service.
