The process kicked off immediately after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter during plenary, urging lawmakers to consider Musa for the role. Musa is set to replace former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday citing health reasons.
Akpabio suspended Senate rules to allow the retired military chief into the chamber for a proper screening session.
Tinubu’s letter, transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday, highlighted Musa’s experience and capacity to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework at a time when the country faces worsening insecurity. The nomination was also confirmed in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Musa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1991 and has held numerous command and staff positions. In 2021, he was appointed Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, before heading the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps. He became Chief of Defence Staff in 2023.
His predecessor, Badaru, who assumed office on August 21, 2023, stepped down due to ill health. The President accepted the resignation and expressed gratitude for his service. Badaru recently faced criticism after claiming in a BBC Hausa interview that some terrorists were hard to target because their forest hideouts were “too dense for bombs to reach.”
The Senate is expected to conclude Musa’s screening before sending its recommendation to the Presidency for final confirmation.
