This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

FROM LEFT: CHIEF OF AIR STAFF, AIR-VICE MARSHAL SADIQUE ABUBAKAR; CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF, REAR ADMIRAL IBOK-ETE EKWE IBA; CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF, MAJ.-GEN ABAYOMI OLONISAKIN AND CHIEF OF DEFENCE INTELLIGENCE, AIR VICE MARSHAL MORGAN RIKU DURING THEIR MEETING WITH PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ABUJA IN ABUJA ON MONDAY (13/7/15)

The statement said the president made the appeal while addressing service chiefs shortly after their appointments were announced.

The President also called on them to show utmost commitment to their new duties.

“All of you, including the National Security Adviser, were chosen on merit. Your records gave you the job. Save for the new Chief of Army Staff whom I briefly met at his Command at the Multi-National Joint Task Force in Chad, I don’t know any of you.

“Your records recommended you.

“Legally, you are in acting capacity until the National Assembly accepts you.

“It is only then that you will take the oath of office. Thereafter, we will sit down and talk in more detail,” President Buhari told the new service chiefs.

He assured them that their nominations would be sent soon to the National Assembly for confirmation.