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By Tracy Moses
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives, seeking legislative confirmation of his newly appointed heads of Nigeria’s defence establishment, including the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs.
The President’s request was contained in two separate letters addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and read during Wednesday’s plenary session.
In the first letter titled “Appointment of Chief of Defence Staff,” President Tinubu sought the approval of the House for the appointment of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff.
“In compliance with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap 820, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, I am pleased to present for confirmation by the House of Representatives the appointment of Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff,” the letter read in part.
The President expressed confidence that the House would consider the nomination without delay, while conveying his “highest consideration and best regards” to the Speaker.
In a second correspondence, President Tinubu also sought the confirmation of three newly appointed Service Chiefs, Major General Waidi Shuaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff.
He explained that the nominations were made in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and urged lawmakers to give the request urgent attention.
Recall that the appointments followed a sweeping reshuffle of the nation’s military leadership approved by President Tinubu in October 2025, amid growing concerns over persistent security challenges across the country. The move saw the replacement of key commanders in the armed forces, including the former Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs.
Following the reading of the letters, the House resolved to refer the nominations to an ad-hoc screening committee for legislative consideration and confirmation. Speaker Abbas announced that the committee would be chaired by the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, with the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Committees on Army, Navy, and Air Force serving as members.
Given the importance of the appointments and the concurrent screening exercise in the Senate, the committee was directed to commence its work immediately after plenary. The Speaker further urged the panel to ensure a thorough but swift screening process in line with constitutional provisions and established legislative procedures.