The Senate Panel on Wednesday, November 27, screened Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, the acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), behind closed-door to determine his suitability to be appointed as the substantive COAS by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, in his remarks before resolving into closed doors, recalled that the Senate had at its sitting on Tuesday, Nov. 26, read the request of President Bola Tinubu nominating Oluyede for the top job.
The Committee Chairman condoled with Oluyede over the late COAS chief, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, and said that the latter made significant strides in improving the welfare of the Nigerian Army and brought innovations such as the Nigerian Army Aviation.
He further said: “It is a known fact that the nation, currently is bedevilled by a multiplicity of security challenges requiring cogent and urgent solutions.
“I want to use this opportunity to commend the gallantry of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces in general for the successes recorded so far in the war against insurgency and other criminalities within the country.
According to Yar’adua, the screening was targeted at bringing to bear Oluyede’s professional skills, experiences, and expertise.
“Based on your strategic knowledge and vision towards defending Nigeria from external aggression, maintaining its territorial integrity, and securing its borders from violation on land.
“Your abilities to offer proposals toward funding solutions for military funding and the welfare of personnel will be of interest to this country,” Yar’adua said.
