The Senate has confirmed the immediate-past service chiefs as non-career ambassadors three weeks after their nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Their nomination was confirmed on Tuesday.
Those confirmed as non-career Ambassadors included former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.) (Ekiti); former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) (Borno); former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok- Ette Ibas (retd.) (Cross River; former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar(retd.) (Bauchi); and former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman (retd.) (Kano).
To confirm the nominees, the Red Chamber considered the report of the Senator Mohammed Bulkachuwa-led Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Bulkachuwa explained that the ex-service chiefs performed satisfactorily at their screening, which held behind closed-doors.
“The nominees responded satisfactorily. At the end of the screening exercise; their nominations are in line with section 171 of the 1999 constitution,” the Bauchi senator said.
“That the nominees have been cleared by the Department of State Services (DSS). That the nominees have presented their code of conduct slips.
“That the nominees rose to a point of their career that has made them eminently qualified. The committee is satisfied with their character and performance,” he said.
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However, Senate President Ahmad Lawan blocked an attempt by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to draw attention to a petition against the confirmation of the ex-service chiefs.
The Senate President then put the nomination to a voice vote and it was confirmed.
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