Senate: We’ll persuade Buhari to fire service chiefs

The senate says it will persuade President Muhammadu Buhari to consider its position on the removal of service chiefs.

In July, the upper legislative chamber passed a resolution calling on the service chiefs to “step aside” over their abysmal performance in containing the insurgency in the north-east.

But in a swift response, Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said it is only President Muhammadu who can take a decision on service chiefs.

In an interview with PUNCH, Ajibola Basiru, senate spokesman, said although the resolution is advisory, it represents the views of Nigerians who elected them into office.

“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,” Basiru said.

“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.”

Gabriel Olonisakin, chief of defence staff; Tukur Buratai, chief of army staff; Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff, and Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, chief of naval staff, are all overdue for retirement.