Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin and service chiefs have been given tenure extension by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas and Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, will enjoy the tenure elongation according to a statement yesterday by Defence Minister Gen. Mansur Dan Ali.
The statement signed by the minister’s spokesman Col. Tukur Gusau, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari, having carefully reviewed the on-going military operations across the nation and the efforts of the CDS and service chiefs in the counter insurgency operations in the Northeast coupled with the security situation of the Niger Delta region, has graciously approved the extension of tenure of service of the CDS, Gen. Olonisakin, the COAS, Lt.-Gen. Buratai, the CNS, Vice Admiral lbas and the CAS, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar.
“This extension is pursuant of the powers conferred on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Section 218 (l) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 09.06 of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions for Service for officers (2012) Revised.
“The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali therefore congratulates the CDS and Service Chiefs for earning the confidence of the President and the people of Nigeria leading to their extension of service.”
The statement did not state how long the extension will last although it is believed that service chiefs serve a two-year term unless it is elongated by the commander- in- chief, who is the appointing authority.
The CDS and the service chiefs were appointed on July 13, 2015.
Gen. Olonisakin was the Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) before his elevation to CDS.
The Ekiti State born General was a member of the 26th Regular Course.
Lt. Gen. Buratai from Borno State, took over the baton from Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, from his position as Commander of the Multinational Joint Taskforce.
A member of the 29th Regular Course, Buratai, was commissioned into the Army as an Infantry Corps officer in December 1983.
Vice Admiral Ibas, from Cross River State, was enlisted into the military in 1979 and commissioned a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited before his appointment as CNS.
He headed the Western Naval Command (WNC) before being appointed.
Air Marshal Sadeeq Abubakar was Chief of Administration, NAF headquarters. He also served as Chief of Defence Communications, Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command and Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF Headquarters.
