L –R , Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar ; and Chief of Naval Staff , Admiral Ibik –Eke Ibns ; Chief of Army Staff ; Lt. General Tukur Buratai and the Chief of Defence Staff , General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa
President Muhammadu Buhari has extended the tenure of all the Service Chiefs, Mansur Dan Ali, the Minister of Defence said in a statement on Monday.
In the statement which was signed by Colonel Tukur Gusau, Public Relations Officer to the Minister , the extension is predicated on the need to allow the service chiefs to continue the prosecution of the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents and the militancy in Niger Delta.
The full statement reads, “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, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai Chief of Army Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, the Chief of Naval staff and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, the Chief of Air staff.
“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 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and section 09.06 of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions for Service for officers (2012) Revised.
“The Honourable Minister of Defence Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali therefore congratulate the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs for earning the confidence of the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria leading to their extension of service.