Coalition Warns Buhari against Renewing Tenure of Service Chiefs, Says Tenure Expired July 15

Civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Rights for Justice, Peace and Security (CCRJPS), on Monday warned President Muhammadu Buhari against further renewal of the tenure of  Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin and other service chiefs.

CCRJPS  said  the continued retention of the service chiefs  was stagnating career progression in the military.

The Executive Secretary of the coalition, Barr. Abubakar Dan Bauchi, who spoke in Abuja, called for the immediate retirement of service chiefs and appointment of new officers with fresh ideas that would help reinvigorate the ongoing war against terrorism and armed banditry.

The coalition said the call for the retirement of the service chiefs was predicated on the fact that their continued retention in office by the president was not only affecting the morale of military personnel but also contributing negatively  to career progression.

While noting that the "constitutional tenure of the service chiefs had lapsed since July 13, 2019", Bauchi said any official communication or action initiated by the security heads after the aforementioned date would be deemed unlawful

"We note with regret that the continued retention of the Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs despite the fact that their constititional tenure of office lapsed since July 13, 2019 is not in the spirit and letters of our revered  Constitution.

"The inability of President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to voice of reason and retire the security chiefs has not helped matters either, as the development has in no small measures contributed to stagnation in careers of our able military personnel besides the obvious fact that their morale in professional duties had been dampened", he said.

The coalition  said: "through this state, we, the Coalition of Civil Rights for Justice, Peace and Security have appealed to the president to immediately do the needful by retiring the Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs given that their constitutional tenure of office had since lapsed on  Sunday July 14, 2019.

"Any official action taking by the Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs after this date is deemed not only illegal but also considered null and void," the statement further warned.

The group said their continued stay in office amounted to gross violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and  demoralises  officers and men who cannot grow in the system.

The statement further blamed the security lapses in the country on the continued stay of incumbent service chiefs in office.