The House of Representatives on Wednesday called for the resignation of the nation’s service chiefs, amid widespread public discontent over growing insecurity in the country.

The House urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the military commanders if they failed to resign.

The resolution was reached following a motion of urgent public importance motion titled “Need to Curb the Incessant Attacks of the Boko Haram Insurgents in the North-East Zone,” and moved by the Chief Whip, Mohammed Mongunu, and 14 others.

Mr Mongunu decried the recent surge in attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east zone.

He said that the successes earlier recorded by the security agents which led to increased economic activities within the North-east zone is gradually being eroded by the resurgence of the insurgency in Borno and Yobe states.

“Recently, the insurgents have forced the Nigerian military to close traffic on the Damaturu-Maiduguri road for some days. The Damaturu-Maiduguri road is the only access from Maiduguri to other parts of Nigeria,” he said as reported by Premium Times.

Defence Chief Abayomi Olonisakin, Army Chief Tukur Buratai, Navy Chief Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, and Air Chief Sadique Abubakar, were appointed on July 13, 2015, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

But he has kept them in office despite public outcry. Based on the Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service, the tenures of the defence and service chiefs expired on July 13, 2017.

Also, Section 8 of the public service rules stipulates that the compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service — whichever is earlier. In spite of this, each of the service chiefs has spent above the stipulated service years.

Defence Chief Olonisakin, 57, has spent 38 years in service. Army Chief Buratai and Navy Chief Ibas, both 59, have been in service for 36 years.

Air Chief Abubakar, 59, has 40 years of service to his name.