The Senate Committee on Army, led by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, screened the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, for confirmation as the substantive Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on November 27, 2024.
The session was held behind closed doors due to security considerations.
Prior to the closed door session, Senator Yar’adua addressed journalists, emphasizing the importance of the legislative role in confirming high-level security appointments.
He highlighted the critical role of the National Assembly in ensuring national security through proper oversight, especially given Nigeria’s current security challenges. Yar’adua commended the military’s ongoing efforts in combating terrorism and insurgency, underscoring the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces in maintaining national peace and security.
The committee sought to assess Oluyede’s strategic expertise, vision for national defense, and his proposals for improving military funding and personnel welfare.
Yar’adua stressed that the screening process was vital for ensuring the effectiveness of the military in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and supporting civil authorities in maintaining order.
He said, “As a result, the Parliament must be seen to respect and take ative notice of and uphold any law relating to national legislation, itutional provision and judicial pronouncement made by court of competent iction in matters affecting the nation.
“It is no doubt that the security sector governance aims at elaborating rules that set ards for state and human security by applying the principles of good mance to the security sector, thereby making security provision oversight and ement more effective and more accountable, within the framework of ratic civilian control.
“This underscores the seriousness attached to the discharge of our jurisdiction on behalf of Nigerians in performing this screening exercise of the nominee as required by the law of the Federation.
“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.
“It is a known fact that our nation is currently bedeviled with multiplicity of security challenges requiring cogent and urgent solutions.
“May I however, commend the gallantry of the Officers and Men of the AFN for the success recorded so far in the war against terror, curtailing of insurgency and other criminalities within the Country, even to the laying down of their lives.
“This screening exercise intends to bring to bear your professional skills, experiences and expertise based on your strategic security knowledge and vision towards defending Nigeria from external aggression.
This is being done through maintaining its territorial integrity: securing its borders from violation on land suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order among others.
“Furthermore, your abilities to offer proposal towards finding solutions for military unding and welfare of personnel will be of interest to this Committee.”
