Wednesday’s plenary in the Nigerian senate witnessed a sharp division among the Lawmakers, over a Bill that seeks to establish the Armed Forces Service Commission, sponsored by the Minority Leader, Senator Enyinaya Abaribe.
After much debate in support and against the passage for second reading of the bill, the Senate President Ahmad Lawan ruled in favour of those opposing it following a voice votes swinging to the majority.
As tension Rose in the chamber over Abaribe’s insistence on the application of order 73 which challenged Lawan’s opinion on the bill, the Senate President asked that the lawmakers dissolved into an executive session, which later took them over 20 minutes to resolve.
Senator Abaribe had while leading debate on the bill, stated that it seeks to get the National Assembly to give effect to the clear provisions of section 219 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
He explained that the Armed Forces is a “national institution that should be insulated by the vagaries of political divisions and therefore the framers of the constitution in their wisdom inserted this section to prevent a situation where our national symbol of unity and strength could be sacrificed on the alter of political temperament.”
The lawmaker added that the bill seeks to establish the Armed Forces Services Commission to ensure that the composition/appointment of Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federation reflects Federal Character of Nigeria in the manner prescribed in section 217 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.
Senator Abaribe listed the function and powers of the commission to include recommending to the President from among the best and most qualified, most educated and most experienced members of the Armed Forces for appointment as the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff as well as the Director of Military Intelligence, and Heads of other arms-bearing security agencies and ensure that such appointments reflects the Federal Character.
He added that the commission shall among others also recommend to the President the removal from office as Service Chiefs and Head of other arm-bearing security agencies on ground of misconduct, abuse of office, breach of any section of the Constitution, the Armed Forces Act or any other Act of the National Assembly.
The Minority Leader further argued that the enactment of the bill will help strengthen national unity and integration where the overall interest of all sections of the country is protected in line with Order 77 (3) of Senate standing rules.
However, trouble started when the Senate President called for contributions from lawmakers, which actually caused division among them. Senator Francis Alimikhena was first to kick against the bill, saying once put on paper, it is going create disunity in the operation of the Armed Forces.
According Senator Alimikhena who is a retired military officer, “As it is presently composed the commission cannot take the function of the Chief of Army Staff or the functions of all the Service Chiefs, because if you allow this bill to materialise, the Armed Forces will be politicised and the professionalism will be killed.”
Also kicking against the Bill, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa said there’s no need for such a commission to duplicate the functions of the Federal Character Commission.
On the other hand, the Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi affirmed his support for the bill, saying it “stands on very solid constitutional grounds from Sections 217, 213 and 219 (of the Constitution).
Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege said “on the surface it is difficult to quarrel the content of the bill,” stressing that the power to appoint the Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs as well as heads of security agencies, are already determined by the Constitution, which confers it on the President.
President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan after resuming from the executive session said that the Senate reviewed the issues generated after considering the bill and urged its sponsor to withdraw it till appropriate time.
“We have appealed to the Minority Leader to withdraw the Standing Order 73 and of course, indeed any distinguished senator would have the opportunity to look into that bill again in the future to do more consultations among distinguished senators so that variety of ideas into the Constitution or the Bill will be such that when it comes it should have jet speed passage.”
As a result of the Executive session outcome, Senator Abaribe withdrew the Division Order, and consideration of the bill for second reading.
“In order to preserve the dignity of this Chamber I wish to withdraw my Order 73 and for us to be able to do further consideration of the Bill, I wish to also step down the consideration of this bill,” he said.
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