The House of Representatives will on Wednesday screen the newly appointed service chiefs.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson had said the new service chiefs will be screened behind closed doors for security reasons.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House, on Wednesday, last week read a letter from President, Muhammadu Buhari seeking the confirmation of the new service chiefs.

Following the reading of the letter, the speaker of the House constituted a panel made up of chairmen, deputy chairmen and some members of the military-related standing committees, to be led by Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Mr Babajimi Benson.

Benson, who confirmed that the screening will take place on Wednesday, also revealed that the House and the Senate would conduct a parallel exercise.

 He added that while the opening session would be open, the proper screening would be done in secret.

“You know that for security issues, you don’t want to put information out there that the enemy will use against us. We will make some opening remarks but the main ‘question and answer’ session (would be behind closed doors).

“Nigerians should rest assure that we have moved (and adopted) several motions on insecurity and those resolutions are uppermost in our mind. We want safety and security to return to our national life. We are mindful of all that,” he said.

The Senate committees responsible with oversight over Nigerian military are also billed to conduct a closed-door, separate screening exercise this week.

The new service chiefs who will be screened on Wednesday are Maj. Gen. Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea lrabor – Chief of Defence Staff; Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru – Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo – Chief of Naval Staff; and Air Vice Marshal Isiaka O. Amao – Chief of Air staff.

They are to replace the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.