Former Governor of Kano State and Senator representing Kano Central in Nigerian Senate, Ibrahim Shekarau, has on Thursday, said that President Muhammadu Buhari is violating the Nigerian constitution by refusing to terminate the services of Service Chiefs despite calls by different stakeholders in the country.
Shekarau who made the statement on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, said no matter how much confidence Buhari has in his Service Chiefs, they have to go not only because they have failed, but by the provisions of the law of the country.
He said, “The President is breaking the law, the law says if you are 60 you must go, it is automatic. If you are 35-years in service, you must go. In fact, they are not staff of Mr. President, they are the staff of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and there is a rule.”
The Senator’s call is coming after the Boko Haram massacre in Zabarmari has renewed agitations for the sacking of the Security Chiefs over their failure to perform as expected.
Shekarau, who was also a two-term Governor of Kano state said beyond the argument regarding performance, the Military Chiefs have overstayed their years of service and as such, the laws guiding the scheme of service are being flouted.
He said the question of the rule of law must be answered by the presidency, with regards to retaining the Service Chiefs as military is governed by a scheme of service which includes when to leave automatically.
The former education minister said none of the Service Chiefs has less than 35-years of service under their belt, a requirement which he says makes them eligible to have been retired.
“Even if Mr President has found them indispensable, he should allow them to retire just like any public service as the rule specifies and you can then hire them either as minister of defence, adviser of defence, NSA, etc.,” Shekarau added.