Why Buhari hasn’t sack Buratai, others

The sacking or retention of Service Chiefs and other heads of the Armed forces is a discretion that lies with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (Rtd) has said.

He said, Service Chiefs could resign on their own volition or wait for the Commander-in-Chief to relieve them of their position.

The worsening insecurity in the country has triggered calls for the sack of Service Chiefs by Nigeria’s legislative chambers, but, the retired General opined that it’s exclusively that of President Buhari to decide.

According to him: “A service chief can resign but sacking them is at the discretion of the President. When you get to that position, you are serving at the discretion of the President.

In the circumstance that Service Chiefs found themselves which obviously, they don’t have anything new to add up or bring to the table, they can quietly approach the President.

“Or you can write to your minister who will deliver such letter to the President to tell him that you will like to leave.

He explained that there was no tenure attached to Service Chiefs, a situation he lamented, insisting that only Buhari decides what to do to them in terms of sacking them or allowing them to stay.

He explained that Civil Service rules of 35 years in service or 60 years of age as a bar for retirement would not be helpful in the force, adding that one might join the force early enough and still be valuable after he had served for 35 years.