The House of Representatives has demanded for the resignation of the Service Chiefs i.e Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, failing which the President should remove them following a heated debate on the resurgence of insecurity in the country. This issue was considered during deliberations on a Motion of Urgent Public Importance. Presenting the motion at the House plenary on Wednesday 29th January 2020, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC: Borno) highlighted the resurgence of insecurity in the country and need for action as Nigeria’s sovereignty had been threatened.
Contributing to the motion, Hon. Yusuf Gadgi (APC: Plateau) stated the need for the Federal Government to review and re-organise the current security architecture in the country. Hon. Abubakar Fulata (APC: Jigawa) also expressed concern over the war against insecurity nationwide. Describing the situation as a “cash cow for powerful individuals” who must have benefitted from a war of over seven years, Hon. Fulata further called for the replacement of key armed personnel in different parts of the country as he mentioned that the continuation in office of the service chiefs was to the country’s detriment as they had outlived their usefulness. He also questioned the logic in the keeping of officers who take the same actions repeatedly while miraculously expecting a turn-around in the security challenges befalling the country.
Lawmakers voted in the affirmative when Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, (APC: Lagos) and Speaker of the House of Representatives put the question moved by Hon. Fulata on whether the Service Chiefs should resign and leave their offices.
