The Department of State Services (DSS) has described as false and spurious a tweet by one Jackson Ude @jacksonpbn, over an allegation against the person and office of the Director General, State Services (DGSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi.
A Statement by the Director, PR and Strategic Communications, DSS, Abuja, Peter Afunanya clarified 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.
“Similarly, 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?” the Statement inquired.
Afunanya called Ude out over his continued campaign of calumny against the DSS Boss, stating that all facts are on the contrary.
“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.
“Notably, the Service is aware of the desperation and antics of Ude and his other hirelings to associate it with unnecessary controversies either during the 2023 Presidential election or the subsequent litigations following it. The recent campaign of calumny is one of such. But as always, the DGSS is unperturbed. The Service under him will continue to chart a professional course aimed at internal security of the country,” Afunanya assured.
It is against this background that the DSS is urging the public 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.’
