DSS Personnel Explain Reasons For Celebrating Bichi’s Departure

DSS Personnel Explain Reasons For Celebrating Bichi’s Departure

The recent resignation of Yusuf Bichi as Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) has elicited varied reactions within the agency. Several DSS officers, speaking anonymously, expressed a sense of relief, describing Bichi’s departure as a “liberation from unprofessionalism……CONTINUE READING 

These officers cited numerous instances of alleged misconduct during Bichi’s tenure, particularly highlighting the undue influence exerted by his family members, including his wife and son, Yusuf Bichi Jr. They claimed that this interference undermined the agency’s professional integrity and compromised its operations.

Following Bichi’s resignation, a video surfaced online showing what appeared to be DSS staff celebrating his departure. The video quickly spread across social media, igniting further discussion. However, an X user named Sanusi Jibrin offered a different interpretation, explaining that the footage was taken at the DSS office in Kogi State and was actually a celebration of Adeola Ajayi’s appointment as the new DSS Director-General. Ajayi previously served as a director at the Kogi State command, making his promotion a source of pride for the local staff.

Despite this clarification, some DSS personnel openly expressed their satisfaction with Bichi’s removal. One officer described his tenure as a form of punishment, accusing Bichi of stifling career advancement by extending the service years of those due for retirement, thereby blocking promotions for others. Officers who were supposed to retire in 2021 and 2022 were reportedly kept in service beyond their time.

Another officer criticized Bichi’s indifference to staff welfare. He noted that while the Federal Government had approved a 40% salary increase for DSS personnel, it was never implemented under Bichi’s leadership, resulting in the police now earning more than DSS officers. A proposed 25% salary increase for this year also remains unfulfilled.

Further allegations pointed to nepotism in recruitment under Bichi’s leadership. One agent claimed that Bichi’s hiring practices were arbitrary and heavily biased, with most of the new recruits being from the North. The agent recounted that Bichi’s first recruitment in 2019 brought in hundreds of personnel from his local government area in Kano alone, and that the agency’s headquarters lacked southern representation among national directors and deputy directors until January of this year, when a directive from the Presidency, following a petition, led to some changes.

Additionally, the agent alleged that Bichi’s wife was notorious for abusing her husband’s office, and that their son was similarly power-hungry. Instances of misconduct included allegations that Bichi’s wife had slapped a DSS director in a northern state and at least two deputy directors at airports.

Debo Adeniran, Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, commented on the reported celebrations of Bichi’s resignation, suggesting that such reactions do not necessarily reflect his effectiveness as a leader. He pointed out that workers often dislike strict bosses who enforce discipline and reject corruption.

Adeniran stated, “I’m not saying the former DG was perfect, as there were clear gaps in intelligence gathering and security management during his tenure. However, the fact that staff members are celebrating his exit could indicate either his strictness or a lack of attention to their welfare. It’s possible that his departure will give them the opportunity to perform better than they did under his leadership.”