[BREAKING] Only President Buhari can sack Service Chiefs – Presidency

Following the call by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that all the service chiefs should resign honourably, the Presidency has reacted that only President Muhammadu Buhari can sack Service Chiefs.

While noting the resolution passed by the upper legislative house on Tuesday July 21 , the Presidency stated that it is the President prerogative to hire and fire the service chiefs.

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).

But the Presidency, in a brief but blunt 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.”