SSS Director General Set To Fire All Disloyal Officers

Indications have emerged that the Director-General, Department of State Services, DSS, Lawal Daura may embark on large-scale purge of personnel as the first leg of his restructuring agenda for the service.

LEADERSHIP learnt that the DSS boss is poised to purge the service of those personnel perceived to have compromised their oath of service by being disloyal to the system. The exercise will also affect redundant officers.

A Presidency source said the president instructed the new DG to investigate the controversial activities which involved the service, especially before and during the last general elections, with a view to flushing out all officers and operatives who soiled their hands during the period under focus.

The acting DG is expected to conduct the shake-up by sacking or retiring officers who were either indicted or believed to have enjoyed political patronage during the Jonathan administration.

The source disclosed that Daura presented a long list of reform agenda he planned to implement to President Muhamadu Bahari who was said to have immediately given his nod.

The source also affirmed that last Saturday’s reversal of the last promotion exercise approved by the last administration was part of the agenda of the new helmsman.

“The new DG presented a long list of reforms programmes to President Buhari and part of it is to do away with redundant hands and those officials who may interfere with his vision and dream to reposition the agency to the desire of Nigerians,” the source said.

An internal memo from the office of the DG dated July 3, 2015, stated that all staff promoted, converted or upgraded by the promotion exercise would be affected, adding that the DG DSS had constituted a committee to handle a review of all the cases.

About 45 personnel, including DSS spokesman, who were promoted to deputy director, were directed to revert to their former ranks with immediate effect.