Presidency behind Senate’s call for Service Chiefs’ sack – Sources

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday called on Service Chiefs to “Step aside”.

On Wednesday, a source close to the federal government claimed that the Senate resolution was reached at presidential Villa, Abuja.

On Friday July 17, President Muhammadu Buhari had a parley with Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The source asserted that the meeting agreed that the legislature should demand the ouster of the Service Chiefs.
“The Senate is disturbed that in Katsina again, about 20 soldiers were also ambushed and killed while several others were wounded. The Senate appreciates the sacrifices of our armed forces in the fight against insurgency, banditry and protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria,” he said.

Ndume warned that if the trend continues, there will be grievous implications on the fight against insurgency and banditry in Africa’s biggest nation.

After one minute silence in honour of fallen soldiers, the Senate mandated the joint committee on Army, Airforce, Navy, National Security and Nigeria Police, to receive briefings on the current conditions of affairs.

Lawan charged the committee to look into the desertion of soldiers battling enemies of the state.

“The spirit of this motion is that our Armed Forces are trying very hard, but just like the President said, their good is not good enough. We need to continue to encourage and provide for them. They lay their lives on behalf of us.

“It is very sad that some of them are alleged to have deserted the war front. We need to get to the bottom of this. Our joint committee should be able to find out the facts about this allegation of over 200 deserting the war front”, Lawan added.