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The newly appointed service chiefs have arrived at the National Assembly for screening by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent shake-up of Nigeria’s military leadership.
On October 24, 2025, President Tinubu appointed Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff, Maj. Gen. Waidi Shaibu as the Chief of Army Staff, and AVM Sunday Kelvin Aneke as the Chief of Air Staff. He also named Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as the Chief of Naval Staff, while Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Akomaye Undiandeye retained his position as the Chief of Defence Intelligence.
The President’s decision to replace the former service chiefs came amid mounting public pressure for improved security outcomes, as Nigeria continues to grapple with terrorism, banditry, and violent crimes across several regions.
Earlier this week, President Tinubu called on the Senate to “expeditiously” screen and confirm the newly appointed service chiefs. His letters were read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session and by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during Wednesday’s House sitting.
To facilitate the process, the Speaker constituted a special screening committee chaired by Babajimi Benson, Chairman of the House Committee on Defence.
Senate Prioritises Service Chiefs’ Screening Over Borrowing Report
During Wednesday’s plenary, the Senate postponed consideration of a key report on external borrowing to focus on the screening of the new security chiefs. The suspended report, prepared by the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, covered proposed external loans under the 2025 Appropriation Act and the refinancing of maturing Eurobonds.
Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno raised a point of order requesting that the borrowing discussion be set aside due to the urgent nature of national security matters. His motion was seconded by Senate Minority Whip Osita Ngwu.
Following the motion, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved that the chamber dissolve into the Committee of the Whole to commence the screening exercise. The service chiefs, led by Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, were then admitted into the chamber.
The confirmation process is being conducted in line with Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act.
Bamidele also proposed that Lt. Gen. Oluyede be exempted from another round of questioning, having been recently screened by the Senate for his previous role as Chief of Army Staff. Lawmakers later went into a closed-door session to continue the exercise.
