Breaking: President Buhari extends tenure of defence, service chiefs (Details, pics)

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the extension of the tenure of the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff.

The approval was confirmed by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, who noted in a statement by his Public Relations Officer, Colonel Tukur Gusau, on Monday that the President extended the tenures “having carefully reviewed the ongoing military operations across the country.”

The statement said 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 said the action is of the president is 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.

The statement also said that the service chiefs had been congratulated by Mansur Dan-Ali for earning the confidence of the president and the people of Nigeria leading to their extension of service.