The Presidency on Tuesday in a swift response to calls by the Senate on Service Chiefs to resign said only President Muhammadu Buhari has such prerogative powers.
It was reacting to resolution of the Senate earlier in the day, asking the Service Chiefs to resign or get sacked for rising insecurity in the nation, especially the recent killing of soldiers and mass resignation in the military.
The resolutions of the Senate followed consideration of a motion titled: “Rising casualties among Nigerian soldiers and other security agencies” by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South).
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.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) July 21, 2020
But the Presidency, in a terse statement titled “Service Chiefs: Position of Presidency on resolution by the Senate” said Buhari reserves the right to appoint or sack Service Chiefs.
The statement, on the verified twitter handle of the Presidency @NGRPresident, reads: “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.”
