Major shakeup in Senate over Service Chiefs, Presidency reacts

The Nigeria’s Senate has called on Service Chiefs to step aside as the country continues to tackle security challenges.

Onyxnews Nigeria reports that senators made the call during plenary on Tuesday in reaction to a motion by Senator Ali Ndume.

The security situation of Nigeria has made Senator Ndume call for the service chiefs, removal. He demands they step aside.

Senator Ndume moved his motion on the back of the recent ambush of soldiers in Katsina and the alleged voluntary resignation of many soldiers.

According to the Senator, both developments and others are bothered.

If this continues, Senator Ndume expects that there will be dangerous for the country.

The call for them to step aside was made in line with an additional prayer to his motion in the course of deliberations.

Over the last few years, and as Nigeria struggled to end Boko Haram insurgency, tackle banditry, kidnapping, and several security challenges, the service chiefs have faced much criticism.

There have also been several calls from various quarters for their removal including from lawmakers.

Under the 8th Assembly, there were repeated calls for a shakeup of the nation’s security setup including the removal of the service chief.

The 9th Assembly has also not spared them of criticism. President Muhammadu Buhari, has, however, opted against their leaving, a move that has also been criticised by the opposition and several prominent citizens in Nigeria.

Reacting to the development, Presidency made a declaration in a statement on microblogging site, Twitter that only President Muhammadu Buhari can sack Service Chiefs.

The statement read thus: “The Senate on 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, & 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.”