Senate to screen defence minister nominee today

The Senate will today (Wednesday) screen Christopher Musa, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, for appointment as the new Minister of Defence.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed this in a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Tuesday, emphasising the importance of the exercise to safeguarding internal peace and stability.

Musa’s nomination follows the resignation of Mohammed Badaru, the former Minister of Defence, who stepped down citing health-related reasons. President Bola Tinubu subsequently forwarded Musa’s name as his replacement.

Bamidele said the Senate “is already in possession of the request of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to screen his defence minister nominee.”

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He added that the letter “will be read on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday,” after which the chamber will immediately commence the screening, in line with Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“We cannot delay such a request, especially at this crucial time in the history of our fatherland,” Bamidele said.

“We are treating the request as a matter that directly touches the core interest of our nation so that the federal government can sustain its campaigns against bandits, extremists, terrorists and other forces undermining our national security.

“Since the president has declared a state of emergency on national security, both the Presidency and the National Assembly must work hand in hand to ensure peace, stability and good governance.

“The screening of the defence minister nominee is one of the ways to demonstrate such synergy, purely in the national interest.”

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