The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and a coalition of more than 75 civil society organisations (CSOs) have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for dismissing the nation’s Service Chiefs, describing the move as bold, timely, and in the national interest.
In a joint statement signed by James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), the groups said the decision was “long overdue but better late than never,” citing the persistence of insecurity under the former military leadership.”From the forests of Zamfara to the highways of Abuja–Kaduna, the creeks of the Niger Delta to the shores of the Gulf of Guinea, insecurity flourished under their watch,” the statement read.
“Kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and piracy became daily realities for Nigerians. Their removal was not just necessary, it was inevitable.
“While acknowledging that the action came later than expected, the CNPP and CNCSOs praised President Tinubu for taking a decisive step to confront the country’s worsening security challenges.They urged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to “hit the ground running” and deliver measurable results that would restore public confidence in the military.
“Nigerians will not celebrate mere appointments; they expect swift, visible improvements in safety across the country,” the coalition stated.However, the groups maintained that a thorough investigation into the activities of the former Service Chiefs should follow the sack.They accused them of presiding over worsening insecurity despite massive defence budgets, alleging poor accountability and possible mismanagement of funds.
“The Nigerian people deserve to know how trillions of naira budgeted for defence and internal security were spent while insecurity worsened,” the statement continued. “We call on President Tinubu to constitute an independent panel to investigate whether negligence, corruption, or complicity contributed to the sustained insecurity that ravaged the country.”The coalition further called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, stressing the need to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force and restore its constitutional role as the primary agency for internal security.
“A weak police force translates into weak internal security. The time has come for President Tinubu to empower, reform, and reposition the police,” the statement added.
They also advocated for the institutionalisation of community policing through constitutional and legislative amendments to make security more people-driven and rooted in grassroots intelligence.Reaffirming their support for genuine government efforts to restore peace and stability, the CNPP and CNCSOs urged the administration to match political will with decisive action.
“President Tinubu has taken the right step by sacking those who failed to deliver. The next step is to probe their stewardship, rebuild the police, and empower the new security leadership to restore peace, unity, and confidence in the Nigerian state,” the statement concluded.
