"You were chosen on merit." President Buhari addresses new Service Chiefs.

President Buhari has met the newly appointed Service Chiefs, few hours after he appointed them as heads of the nation’s armed forces.

The President on Monday afternoon sacked the old Service Chiefs, including the National Security Adviser and appointed new ones.

Addressing the new military chiefs shortly after their appointments, President Buhari made it known that he had appointed them for their new assignments based on merit and their track records.

In his words, “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.”

He therefore charged the new military chiefs to help him rebuild the reputation of the Armed Forces and the nation calling on them to show utmost commitment to their new duties.

The new Service Chiefs, until confirmed by the National Assembly will remain in acting capacity according to the President.

“Legally, you are in acting capacity until the National Assembly accepts you,” the President said. “It is only then that you will take the oath of office. Thereafter, we will sit down and talk in more detail.”