The upper chambers of the Nigerian National Assembly has pledged to convince President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the service chiefs over the rising insecurity in the country.
The senate had requested that the President ask the service chiefs to step aside on July, 21 following the sustained killings of soldiers by terrorists and bandits in Northern Nigeria.
The Senate adopted this position based on a point of order motion raised by the Chairman of the Senate Committee of the Army, Senator Ali Ndume during plenary.
In his motion, Ali Ndume had described the plight of soldiers in North as pathetic and worrisome.
According to the Senator, “Just recently, 24 soldiers were ambushed and killed along the Gamboa-Maiduguri Road in Borno State. At least 19 were wounded, while nine were declared missing in action. It is also disturbing that in Katsina recently, about 20 soldiers were ambushed and killed, while several others were wounded. The number of civilian casualties is not known.
“If the trend continues, it will have serious implications on the fight against insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality in the country. Recently, it was alleged that over 236 soldiers voluntarily resigned from the Nigerian Army.”
The vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Senator Francis Fadahunsi also added his voice to that of Ali Ndume and demanded that the service chiefs step aside.
In response, the Presidency had stated that only President Muhammadu Buhari could sack the service chiefs as prescribed by the constitution.
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Senate Spokesperson, Senator Ajibola Basiru however responded saying the red chamber would do all within its power to persuade President Buhari to sack the military service chiefs.
He said although the resolution of the House was solely advisory, it represented the will of Nigerians who voted the lawmakers into office.
Senator Basiru said; “We, however, still want to persuade the President to consider our resolution. The Presidency has said it is aware of our resolution and has pledged to look into it.
“The Presidency said it is not legally bound to carry out (our) resolution because it is the prerogative of the President to remove service chiefs. Our resolutions are just persuasive authority coming from elective representatives of Nigerians in the National Assembly. “It is not a law. It is advisory and persuasive. The response of the Presidency is the correct position of law and I agree.
“Due to the principle of separation of power, we cannot compel the President to sack the service chiefs. We only responded to the feelings of Nigerians by asking the President to reorganise them (service chiefs) but he is not legally bound to do so.”