JUST IN: Keyamo Faults Appointment Of New Service Chiefs

The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has faulted the appointment of new service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari.

On Tuesday, the President appointed Major General Lucky Irabor as the Chief of Defence Staff; Major General Ibrahim Attahiru as the Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo as the Chief of Naval Staff, and Air-Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao as the Chief of Air Staff.

In a statement on Wednesday, a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), berated the President for appointing the new service chiefs instead of sending their names to the National Assembly for confirmation.

Reacting to the appointment on Wednesday, Keyamo said that the newly appointed service chiefs needed confirmation from the National Assembly.

Keyamo noted that the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), would advise the President to send the names of the new service chiefs to the National Assembly for approval.

He said that the judgement of a Federal High Court, Abuja on a suit he filed declaring that the appointment of the former service chiefs by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 is null and void was still valid.

“The position of the law on the matter is still the same. It has not changed. That their names have been announced does not mean that they won’t be sent for confirmation. They need confirmation and I am sure that the AGF, being a competent and intelligent person, will do the needful on the matter. They need confirmation,” he told The PUNCH.