The Buhari-led federal government of Nigeria has continued to show disregard for the opinions of the people of Nigeria by refusing to replace the current service chiefs. This has left the Nigerian military in a state of anomaly which might not be unrelated to the lacklustre performance of the military against the numerous militant problems facing the country. Lawmakers have attempted to assist the Nigerian people in effecting the desired change to the military all to no avail.

The latest disregard for the laws of the federation and proper order in the civil service is the refusal of the government to insist on the immediate resignation of the chief of air staff on his attainment of the compulsory retirement age of 60 years on 8th April 2020. Independent reporters gathered that Air Marshall Sadiq Baba Abubakar attained 60years of age on the said date. According to the regulations of the federal civil service, all civil servants are supposed to retire on reaching 60 years.

In Nigeria, the public service rules (2008:28-29) states clearly as follows:

The compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier.

No officer shall be allowed to remain in service after attaining the retirement age of 60 years of punishable service whichever is earlier.

The provision of (i) and (ii) of the rule is without prejudice to prevailing requirements for judicial officer and academic staff of universities who retire at 70 and 65 years respectively.

Provided the officer would not have attained the retirement age of 60 year or spent 35 years of spent 35 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.

A Director shall compulsorily retire upon serving eight years of post and

A Permanent Secretary shall hold office for a period of four years and renewable for a further term of four year, subjects to satisfactory performance and no more.

Asides from having kept the service chiefs for more than the stated 4 years of service for permanent secretaries who are at par with the service chiefs, Independent Reporters gathered that the Buhari-led executive had repeatedly turned down the offer to resign by the chief of defence staff since 2018. Rumours have it that the Covid 19 struck chief of staff to the president has been behind the stubborn refusal to change the service chiefs as there was some undisclosed agreement between the COS and the service chiefs. This was corroborated by the leaked letter of the NSA to the service chiefs. It is however acknowledged that the former IGP Ibrahim Idris resigned his appointment as Inspector General of Police on attainment of the compulsory retirement age.

The continued retention of the service chiefs could be unreasonably excused on the grounds of the prerogative of the President and Commander in Chief. The failure of the administration to request the resignation of Abubakar is however a direct contravention of both the civil service act and the modified Terms and conditions of service for civil servants in the armed forces. The terms and conditions of service for serving officers clearly stipulates that an air marshall must retire at the attainment of 58 years of age.

The military is a dynamic institution that is invigorated by regular changing of leadership. When changes are made, an opportunity is provided for other officers to provide leadership. Especially when the present brigade seems to have run out of ideas. The irrational retention of service chiefs for so long is injurious to the military establishment. And if for any reason the government is not alert to its responsibilities to keep the military fluid and vibrant, Generals should be honourable enough to preserve unwritten codes that distinguish the military. Mr Abubakar should immediately tender his resignation in honour of national/military regulations and Nigerians. The federal government should do the needful by sacking the air force chief if he fails to resign.

Source: Independent Reporters editorial.

Sack who?

Lifeless

I hope the problems Major general Buhari is creating won't come to hunt us his family and generations to come?


You don't do things just because you want to. Their are lay down rules and precedence.

It's so sad and shameful that the voice of the people don't count even when it's glearing to all that it's a bad step.


The government is neither accountable to the electorate, lawmakers nor judiciary. I know that God will help us to surmount this regime unhurt.

We deserve more than the service and direction we are currently getting from this regime.....

Enjoy it while it last thou.

Are these army chiefs elected? Why can't they just go?

shakmati:
Are these army chiefs elected? Why can't they just go?

Nigeria for you

Those appointees who reach the top, use corrupt means to remain there even beyond their retirement age and in the face of gross incompetenc and waste of precious human lives.

That the dullard is grossly incompetent is not the issue but the annoying thing is surrounding himself with another concentric band of out worn, lacklustre and clueless appointees simply based on nepotism.

Asking for the service chiefs to be sacked is like asking the devil to give his life to Christ. There are some things that are just impossible. Why any sane person still believes the service chiefs will be sacked any time soon never ceases to amaze me. A lot of people are yet to understand this current government..

buhari is on a mission to destroy dis nation.
it is clear to all that his service chiefs have all failed to stem the tide of terrorism in nigeria yet he is shielding them.
i hope d chief of staff to d president is not planning a military take over with d present crop of service chiefs
we r watching n waiting
buhari shud respect d rule of law

Voting buhari is a foul and the penalty has been awarded...but now, ‘won ti gba penalty wo throwing’

pedrilo:
buhari is on a mission to destroy dis nation.
it is clear to all that his service chiefs have all failed to stem the tide of terrorism in nigeria yet he is shielding them.
i hope d chief of staff to d president is not planning a military take over with d present crop of service chiefs
we r watching n waiting
buhari shud respect d rule of law

There is an absolute disregard for the rules of the federation. The country is being run like a fiefdom!

It is just like a loosing team in a match , with the players on the field playing badly , and the coach refusing to look at the bench , and refusing to make the necessary substitution. Or for a coach to consistently use a loosing team. Frustrating, disgusting, disappointing, ........

BUHARI IS VERY SMART WITH THEM. WITHOUT THEM NO RIFA-RUGA ISLAMISATION FULANISATION AND ANARCHY.

Balo44:


There is an absolute disregard for the rules of the federation. The country is being run like a fiefdom!

If you understand the way this administration works, you will know that 'they' would be removed only when a bigger mess made by the FG is exposed, then they will remove them to create a distraction to reduce attention from the bigger mess.

ivandragon:


If you understand the way this administration works, you will know that 'they' would be removed only when a bigger mess made by the FG is exposed, then they will remove them to create a distraction to reduce attention from the bigger mess.

This is a sorry state of affairs. What happened to resigning before they are used as distraction relief?

Chief judges are retired on attaining 65 years but military men are kept after reaching 60 years. Sad state of affairs for Nigeria.

How can an impostor sack his boss . They are still there because Jubril is in charge and they all have hidden agenda

westerk:
Asking for the service chiefs to be sacked is like asking the devil to give his life to Christ. There are some things that are just impossible. Why any sane person still believes the service chiefs will be sacked any time soon never ceases to amaze me. A lot of people are yet to understand this current government..

Very intelligent comment. Nigerians are very ignorant . This govt has exposed how gullible Nigerians are .

orisa37:
BUHARI IS VERY SMART WITH THEM. WITHOUT THEM NO RIFA-RUGA ISLAMISATION FULANISATION AND ANARCHY.

Another good one ...spot on and is not Buhari ruling

ludd2018:


Another good one ...spot on and is not Buhari ruling

Are you implying the so called hidden agenda goes beyond Buhari as a person?