Senate screens service chiefs Thursday – Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Wednesday that the newly appointed service chiefs would be screened during plenary on Thursday by 11am.

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The Senate president, who did not explain whether the screening would be done in either closed or open session, urged members to be seated on time in order to effectively do justice to the assignment before them.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter, seeking the confirmation of the upper chamber for the appointment of new service chiefs, was read by Saraki on Tuesday.

He said the letter for confirmation of the appointments was in accordance with the provisions of Section18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, 2004.

Buhari, on July 13, announced the appointment of Major General Abayomi Olonishakin as Chief of Defence Staff; Major General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Chief of Naval Staff; Air Vice-Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff; and Air Vice-Marchal Monday Morgan as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

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The president also appointed retired Major General Babagana Monguno as National Security Adviser.

Also on Wednesday,  the Senate president appointed three standing committees and one ad hoc committee, adhering strictly to the rule on geopolitical spread.

The committees are Senate Services,  headed by Senator Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East); Rules and Business, which has Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun Central )  as Chairman, and Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Samuel Anyanwu ( Imo East ).

Saraki  also named Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West ) as Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Information and Public Affairs, with Senators Eyinnaya Abaribe and Ben Bruce,  among others, as members.

Meanwhile,  Saraki has asked senators who are interested in serving in the 8th Senate to pick forms from the Clerk to the Senate and indicate five committees which they wished to serve as soon as possible.