PENGASSAN Calls for Resignation of Service Chiefs Over Rising Insecurity
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has said it is in support of the demands by the House of Representatives for the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs for failing to tackle the rising wave of criminality and alarming increase of insecurity in the country.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, PENGASSAN also demanded for declaration of a state of emergency and a total overhaul of the nation’s security apparatus, as well as a systematic mop up of arms and ammunitions illegally acquired by politicians in the build-up to the 2019 General Elections.
PENGASSAN said this renewed was because the security networks as presently constituted have lost its value and focus and something drastic need to be done before the Country drift into anarchy, and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Service Chiefs if they fail to resign honourably.
The Union said the allegation by the Law makers that the security situation in the country has been converted into a cash cow for their self-aggrandizement by some highly placed should be thoroughly investigated.
The Union said it cannot continue to guarantee the current industrial peace in its sector should there be no improvement on the part of the federal Government in arresting this trend as recorded in 2019.
According to the statement the Service Chiefs have overstayed their tenure in office, thereby contravening the Armed Forces Laws on retirement and disengagement from active service.
“The growing rate of insecurity in the land has become a nightmare. On daily basis, stories of killings in States such as Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Adamawa and the recent beheading of the Adamawa State CAN Chairman have saturated the mass media.
“The BokoHaram Sect for example, have been relentless in the shedding of blood and destruction of properties of innocent victims. We condemn in totality these atrocities and find it highly unacceptable”, the Union said.
The Union said it and NUPENG a sister union had at many occasions raised the alarm over the increasing rates of insecurity in the Country and the need to curtail the tides of bloodletting, criminal characters and kidnappings perpetuated on the citizens by criminal elements and tribal bigots masquerading under toga of religion.
The Union said all the security outfits charged with the responsibilities of protecting human lives and properties must brace up and end the carnages.
The union noted “it is this growing rate of insecurity that has led to regional creation of security apparatus like the Amotekun, by the South West Governors and other Regions itching to create theirs which might lead in the long run, regional demand for autonomy with its attendant consequences.
“We therefore reiterate our stand for the declaration of a state of emergency on Security immediately.”
