Service Chiefs: Only Buhari Can ‘Hire And Fire’ Them – Presidency Tells Senate

The Presidency has asked the senate to stop passing resolutions that borders on the prolonged-stay of the service chiefs in office, saying that only President Muhammadu Buhari has the prerogative to hire and fire them.

The Nigerian Senate had in a resolution on Tuesday demanded an urgent sack of military service chiefs by President Buhari.

The lawmakers hinged their call on the spate of killings in the country and the reported mass exit of soldiers from the Nigerian Army.

Senator Ali Ndume, Chairman Senate Committee on Army, moved the motion which was amended by Senator Francis Fadahunsi, asking the military chiefs to step down.

“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, I hereby moved an amendment to the resolution that all the Service Chiefs should step down”, the amended motion reads.

The Senate also mandated the joint committees of Army, Navy and Defence, Interior, Airforce to interface with the concerned heads of security agencies.

Commenting on the motion, Ndume lamented the high level of casualties among the rank and file of the Military and other Security Agencies.

The Senate has said that it has become imperative for the Service Chiefs to step down especially against the backdrop of recent action where over 356 soldiers were reported to have resigned from the force.

But the presidency, in a statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, (Media and Publicity) said; “The Senate Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the Service Chiefs to resign or be sacked due to the multi-pronged security challenges in the country.

“The Presidency notes the resolution, and reiterates that appointment or sack of Service Chiefs is a Presidential prerogative, and President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will do what is in the best interest of the country at all times”, the statement added.

The four service chiefs include Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Marshal Ibok- Ete Ibas.