Buhari Urges House to Confirm Yahaya as COAS

•Wants teachers’ retirement age raised

Udora Orizu in Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the House of Representatives, urging it to confirm the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

Yahaya replaced the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Attahiru Ibrahim, who recently died in a plane crash in Kaduna.

Buhari also sent an executive bill to the House seeking to increase the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years.

The president’s requests were contained in separate letters, read yesterday by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, at the plenary.

In the letter, he said Yahaya’s appointment was in compliance with the provisions of Section 18 subsection 1 of the Armed Forces Act 2004.

The letter read in part: ”In compliance with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, I hereby forward for confirmation by the House of Representatives, the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His CV is herewith attached. It is my hope that the House of Representatives will consider and confirm the nominee in the usual expeditious manner.”

The speaker referred the request for the confirmation to the Committees on Defence and Army.

For the bill, the president said the decision to increase the retirement age and service years of teachers was pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He said the bill would provide for a harmonised retirement age for teachers in Nigeria.

The letter reads: ”Transmission of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2021 to the National Assembly for consideration. Pursuant to Section 58 subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I forward herewith the harmonised retirement age for teachers in Nigeria Bill, 2021 for consideration by the House.

The harmonised retirement age for teachers in Nigeria bill 2021 seeks to increase the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, and also increase the possible years of service from 35 to 40 years.”