Nigerian Senate to screen General Musa as new defence minister today

The Senate has announced that it will conduct the screening of former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, on Wednesday, following his nomination as the new Minister of Defence.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, through a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs.

Bamidele described the exercise as a critical step toward strengthening national security and preserving internal stability.

General Musa’s nomination comes after the resignation of the former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, who stepped down citing health-related concerns.

President Tinubu on Tuesday forwarded Musa’s name to the Senate in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The Senate Majority Leader said the upper chamber has already received the president’s request and will read the communication during Wednesday’s plenary before proceeding immediately to the screening, in line with Section 147 of the 1999 Constitution.

“We cannot afford any delay, particularly at a time like this. This is a matter that affects the very core of our national interest, ensuring that government sustains its operations against banditry, terrorism, extremism, and other threats undermining our collective security,” he said.

Bamidele stressed that the president’s declaration of a national security emergency requires close coordination between the executive and the legislature.

The screening of the ministerial nominee is one of the ways to reinforce that cooperation in pursuit of peace, stability, and effective governance,” he added.

General Musa, who will be 59 years old on December 25, is a distinguished soldier who served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025.

In 2021, General Musa was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai. He later became Commander of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps before being appointed Chief of Defence Staff by President Tinubu in 2023.

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