President Buhari says Senate lacks power to sack Service Chiefs

President Mohammadu Buhari has said that the Senate is overreaching its power by ordering Service Chiefs to step down from their position, saying the power to hire and fire resides with the Commander-in-Chief.
The Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution asking the Service Chiefs to step aside for new ideas to come in the fight against insecurity so as not to jeopardise the security system in the country.
The resolution followed a Point of Order raised by Sen. Ali Ndume (APC-Borno) during plenary on “The Rising Casualties among the Nigerian Army and other Security Agencies.”
Rising under orders 42 and 52, Ndume raised concerns over the various reports on the number of casualties among the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.
“Just recently 24 soldiers were ambushed and killed along Damboa-Maiduguri road in Borno; 19 were wounded and nine were declared missing in action.
‘The Senate is disturbed that in Katsina again about 20 soldiers were also ambushed and killed why several others were wounded.
“The number of civilian casualty is not known.
However, in a response to the Senate resolution, the presidency said the appointment or sack of Service Chiefs is a presidential prerogative.
“The Presidency notes today’s Senate resolution and reiterates that appointment or sack of Service Chiefs is a Presidential prerogative.
“President 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,” the Presidency said in a statement.