Reps Screen Service Chiefs Today

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee is set to screen the recently appointed service chiefs today, Monday as part of its assignment.

The panel, headed by the chairman of the committee on defence in the 9th House, Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos), was constituted last Tuesday.

Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen who announced the setting up of the panel at plenary, said the eight principal officers of the House from the majority and minority parties would be part of the ad-hoc committee.

The majority caucus has (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) as majority leader; Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims (APC, Kogi), deputy majority leader; Bello Usman Kumo (APC, Gombe), chief whip; and Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga (APC, Ogun) as deputy chief whip.

The minority caucus comprised Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) as minority leader; Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano), deputy minority leader; Ali Isa (PDP, Gombe), minority whip; and George Ozodinobi (LP, Anambra) as deputy minority whip.

Consequently, the ad-hoc panel has scheduled a screening session with the newly appointed Service Chiefs on Monday, July 17, 2023.

The appointees billed for screening by the committee are Major-general Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. T. A. Lagbaja as chief of Army Staff; Rear admiral E. A. Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Vice Marshal H.B. Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.

Tinubu had conveyed the nominations and request for confirmation to the National Assembly via a letter dated July 5, 2023, addressed to president of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Abbas.