The Senate, on Tuesday, asked Nigeria’s service chiefs to resign their positions following the deteriorating security situation in the country.

But the presidency quickly responded saying only President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, had the right to decide the fate of his service chiefs.

However, senior officers, security experts and political scientists said Buhari should “listen to the voice of reason” by relieving the service chiefs of their appointments to pave the way for new hands and new ideas to tame the rising insecurity in the country.

National Assembly angry by worsening insecurity The Senate’s position formed part of the resolutions reached following a motion on ‘rising number of casualties among the Nigerian Army and other security agencies’ by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno).

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The resolution asking the service chiefs to resign was moved by Senator Francis Fadahunsi (PDP, Osun) and seconded by Senator Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers). Fadahunsi said that the present crop of service chiefs should step aside for the new ideas to come in so as not jeopardise the security system. The motion was approved after a voice vote.

The service chiefs are; the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai.

The Senate also urged the federal government to urgently intensify the provision of modern security equipment to enhance the operational capability of the armed forces, Daily Trust reports.