The principle of civilian control over the armed forces of a nation is a critical aspect of a democratic/civilian government. Whichever form of civilian rule a country adopts-parliamentary, presidential, or a hybrid of the former, it's always deemed important to ensure that the military submit to civilian control.

In other words, the civilians make policy, while the uniformed folks are expected to salute and execute the policy. This relationship between the crafters of military policy and the military itself differs slightly amongst various democratic nations.

In the U.S., the military chain of command, by virtue of Article 2 of the constitution, and the provisions of the Goldwater Nichols Act of 1987, runs from the President-Secretary of Defense-Combatant commanders-Unit commanders.

The US Senate, in accordance with the provisions of Article 1 of the constitution, have the powers to confirm the President's nominees for the posts of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (equivalent to Nigeria's CDS), the five service chiefs, the combatant commanders, and the heads of specialized commands such as the Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Transport command etc. The legislative body also had the powers to confirm the President's nominees for commander of US troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Furthermore, the US Congress is the only body with sole power to close US military bases.

In Nigeria, despite the existence of the 2004 Armed Forces Act, Presidents Obasanjo, Yar'Adua, and Jonathan have routinely 'appointed' service chiefs without confirmation from the Senate. Late last year, a Federal High Court basically ruled that appointing service chiefs without Senate confirmation is null and void. It seems that a majority of Nigerian senators are/were even ignorant of the law! It only took a suit filed by Festus Keyamo, seeking enforcement of the law, for the Senators to wake up to their responsibility.

Does our senators understand the condition to start with? Ours is a case of square pegs in round holes.

LRNZH:
PDP has been ruling Nigeria lawless since 1999.
Under them, even lawmakers have become redundant.
Only CHANGE will cure Nigeria of this malaise.

Lol. The blame goes all around. The opposition lawmakers were also ignorant of the law for ages.
I might even suggest a further amendment of the statute to include GOCs and Flag Officers as additional categories of military officers to be subject to Senate confirmation.

It would be a mistake and gross travesty to compare Nigeria and the USA. I rest my case.

What do you expect from leaders,who is selfish minded,with little or no knowledge about his/her purpose of being elected.

Till elected post are made unattractive,and the elected is made answerable to the people,circle will continue..

Its only in Nigeria,people want to serve by force,most times,we don't do election,but selections.

Hahaha...

I blame GEJ for this shyte... #FasholaJoker!!

bigv:
K

K is for K-leg

we only have bunch of fat big headed senators in Nigeria with no vision except vision to embezzle money and collect salary more than that of US president

LRNZH:
PDP has been ruling Nigeria lawless since 1999.
Under them, even lawmakers have become redundant.
Only CHANGE will cure Nigeria of this malaise.

realy??

We're not the US.

The igbó (weed) in Nigeria is stronger than the one in US

Our society has more street urchins than the US and our police can't even handle them.

Our senate is next to SEDATE. Our senate is made up of old men and women who don't want to retire to their villages for fear of kidnapping and other sundry fears.

Our Senate Chamber should converted to an OLD PEOPLE'S HOME.

LRNZH:
PDP has been ruling Nigeria lawless since 1999.
Under them, even lawmakers have become redundant.
Only CHANGE will cure Nigeria of this malaise.

hmmmm shaaaaaatAAaapppp

Even the military are the one ruling Nigeria from their Ota farm.

God punish USA

Nigerian Military, PDP Militant Rigging Arm.

Really?

Hmmmm

I hope nobody died in the accident sha!
RIP to the dead military in US

Fd

We can never allow our legislators wit their ego to confirm our service chiefs not with the State of emergency confirmation *gra gra* still fresh in our minds. Baby politicians

The way politics is played in Nigeria, if we give our senators that power then CHAD millatary would have overtaken Nigeria while they are busy fighting in the media what civil sins the CDS committed when he was still in college

Cg

Gbamm

We have ignorant legislators and the presidents both past and present took advantage of it

You are a MUMU. Yes I said it.
You are a Mumu! If you think Goodluck Jonathan still got anything to offer Nigeria as a president.

A president that his achievements can't be seen in our neighborhood and streets except on twitter. No impact at all!

A president who said on national TV that the army didn't inform him that they were not ready for election. That just shows incompetence on his part as a President for Christ sake he is the GCFR and if you don't know the meaning of that. GCFR mean - Grand Commander of the Order of Federal Republic of Nigeria. All na politics abi? :]Y

4 weeks gone. Have they found the Chibok girls?

Suicide bombers everywhere in the north. E no concern you abi? Them never reach Lagos?

The robbery on Thursday that lasted for 2 hours or how long in Lagos and our police couldn't stop them because the police have been deployed somewhere else. You see you're not safe on the island wey you pack go leave boys for hood :| . RIP to the girl selling fish to survive. She was killed while trying to make a life for herself. That could have been your sister, ur friend, ur cousin, aunt.

We have the best economy in Africa abi? but $1 - N215 :sS

Nigeria survives on importation - we import everything from Petrol, candles, cars, generator. we even import Food but salary no increase. Do the maths

- GEJ where is our missing $20billion oil money?
- Immigration Job scam! *Youths died no government official got fired or queried*
- FAAN job scam going Now!
Our Power sector gone worse. wattapun? is it APC too :]Y
- Stella Odua aviation corruption and scam.
A government SCAMMING it's own people. MUMU people
GEJ knows you'll forgive and forget about his N150/Litre 2012 new year gift and vote him again cos ya a MUMU

U are a MUMU if you think after 4yrs and Buhari doesn't perform I won't ask for change again.

Vote GEJ out of Aso Rock! Rise up and stop being a MUMU

LRNZH:
PDP has been ruling Nigeria lawless since 1999.
Under them, even lawmakers have become redundant.
Only CHANGE will cure Nigeria of this malaise.

Please, let's not politicise this thread. It's a thread we need to actually understand. There's NOT MUCH our President can do if our lawmakers do not rise to the serious occasion of making relevant laws or understanding the implication of existing ones.

K could also mean knock

DeCritique:



K is for K-leg