President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the tenure of service chiefs. Buhari was said to have considered the state of Nigeria’s security.
Colonel Tukur Gusau, the public relations officer to the defence minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, confirmed in a statement on Monday, December 18, saying all the service chiefs including General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS); Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) had their stay in office extended by the president.
“The president and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, having carefully reviewed the on-going military operations across the nation and the efforts of the Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs in the counter insurgency operations in the North-East, coupled with the security situation of the Niger Delta region, has graciously approved the extension of tenure of service of General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS),” the statement said.
The statement added that the action of the president was anchored on the powers conferred on him by section 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 constitution and section 09.06 of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions for Service for officers (2012) revised.