DSS Denies Allegations Of Diverting N35,000 Subsidy Grant For Personnel

The Department of State Security Service (DSS) said the accusations of looting or diverting the N35,000 payment as palliatives for subsidy removal meant for personnel of the Service is false.

The DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, in a statement at the weekend, said, “The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to some spurious publications by Jackson Ude on his Twitter handle @jacksonpbn, against the person and office of the DGSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi

“The Service hereby states that the allegations are entirely false. It wishes to clarify that neither the DG nor anyone acting on his directive has looted staff subsidy grants. No such grant has been made available to the Service and once that is allocated, staff will, as usual, receive what is due them. Mr Bichi has, in all ramifications, evidently catered for the welfare of active and retired personnel. This is common knowledge and can be verified by Ude. ”

Recall that Ude had on X, formally known as Twitter, accused the DGSS of looting subsidy grants meant for DSS personnel.

He said: “There is grumbling amongst personnel of the State Security Service, SSS, over the Director General, DG, refusal to pay the N35, 000 grants approved by President Bola Tinubu for all federal government workers.”

The statement also added that the “so-called ‘goodbye allowance’ which Ude accused the DG of granting himself is non-existent. It is only an imagination of the writer and his sponsors. But assuming the DG is paid any severance package at the end of his tenure, how is that unethical and outside established public service rule?”

It added, “While Ude is at his mischief once again and has continued to smear the image of Mr Bichi as well as present him as corrupt, facts at the DSS show otherwise. Recalled from retirement in 2018 and appointed the DGSS, Bichi is seen as spartan, accountable, transparent and indeed, incorruptible. He has remained resolute in running the Service and shown uncommon commitment in the management of its affairs. His top priorities are staff welfare and judicious application of human and material resources. Any misleading narratives to the contrary are therefore unacceptable.

“In view of the foregoing, the public is urged to disregard the falsehood being peddled by this known fake news merchant whose only stock in trade is to misinform as well as use his platforms to create division and violence. Meanwhile, the DGSS will take appropriate legal steps to seek redress.”