CNPP, 75 Civil Society Groups Applaud Tinubu for Sacking Ineffective Service Chiefs, Demand Immediate Probe and Security System Overhaul

 

In a strong show of support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent decision to remove Nigeria’s Service Chiefs, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and over 75 civil society organisations (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have hailed the move as bold, timely, and in the national interest. The groups, however, insisted that the dismissal must be followed by a thorough probe of the former security chiefs’ tenure and a total overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, October 27, 2025, and signed by Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary of the CNCSOs, the coalition described the sack as “long overdue but better late than never,” noting that insecurity on land and national territorial waters had persisted throughout the tenure of the ousted military leaders — a clear sign of incompetence, policy failure, and lack of coordination.

“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. Kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, and piracy became daily realities for Nigerians. Entire communities were displaced, farmlands abandoned, and ancestral lands seized by non-state actors. Their removal was not just necessary — it was inevitable,” the statement declared.

While acknowledging that the President’s decision came later than it should have, the CNPP and CNCSOs commended Tinubu for finally taking a decisive step to address the country’s worsening insecurity. They urged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to “hit the ground running” and produce measurable results that restore public confidence in the military.

“The President’s action rekindles hope that the government is now ready to match political will with decisive leadership in the war against insecurity. Nigerians, however, will not celebrate mere appointments; they expect swift, visible improvements in safety across the country,” the coalition stated.

Beyond commendation, the groups demanded an immediate and comprehensive probe into the activities of the former Service Chiefs, alleging that their years in office were marked not only by worsening insecurity but also by opaque defence spending and questionable accountability in military operations.

“The Nigerian people deserve to know how trillions of naira budgeted for defence and internal security were spent while insecurity worsened. We call on President Tinubu to immediately constitute an independent panel to investigate the activities, procurements, and command decisions of the former Service Chiefs to determine whether negligence, corruption, or complicity contributed to the sustained insecurity that ravaged the country under their leadership,” the coalition demanded.

According to the statement, meaningful reform in the security sector cannot occur without accountability. “Those who failed the nation must explain why Nigerians remained unsafe in their homes, highways, and waterways despite huge investments in the defence sector,” it added.

The CNPP and CNCSOs further urged the new Service Chiefs to learn from their predecessors’ failures and to work with renewed professionalism, inter-agency cooperation, and community intelligence to restore peace. They also called for a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s internal security framework, particularly by restoring the Nigeria Police Force to its constitutional role as the primary agency responsible for domestic security.

“The police must not continue to exist merely as a protest control unit while the military performs internal security functions that should constitutionally belong to the police. A weak police force translates into weak internal security. The time has come for President Tinubu to empower, reform, and reposition the police as the lead agency in maintaining law and order,” the groups emphasised.

They also advocated the institutionalisation of community policing through constitutional and Police Act amendments to make security people-driven and rooted in grassroots intelligence gathering. “Community policing is not just desirable; it is essential. Security must begin from the people, not from the barracks. The government must bring policing closer to the citizens to build trust, cooperation, and resilience against crime,” the statement added.

Reaffirming their commitment to supporting genuine government efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability, the CNPP and CNCSOs stressed that Nigerians have suffered too much to continue tolerating excuses or mediocrity in the security sector.

“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.

Signed:

Comrade James Ezema, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, CNPP

Alhaji Ali Abacha, National Secretary, CNCSOs