Not happy with Buhari’s govt, massive resignation hits DSS
– The Department of State Services has been hit by massive resignation in the last 10 months
– Over 70 officials have resigned since the take over of the present Director General of the agency, Mallam Lawal Musa Daura
– Some who have resigned complained of unfavourable terms of employment since Daura took over
– However, a senior official of the service said the last dispensation exposed its personnel to unnecessary wealth
Massive resignation has hit the Department of State Services (DSS), in recent times, forcing the management of the service to give a directive that further voluntary resignation from personnel of the service should not be accepted till further notice.
Vanguard reports that since the present Director General of the agency, Mallam Lawal Musa Daura, took over about 10 months ago, no fewer than 70 middle cadre and junior cadre officers have resigned from the service, both from the state commands and the national headquarter.
Men of the Department of State Services (DSS) Nigeria
Some resigned because they got better offers of employment. Others were said to have resigned because of unfavourable terms of employment they alleged had pervaded the service since daura took over.
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Worried by the steady resignation, the management of the service issued a circular through departmental heads and state directors directing that voluntary resignation should no longer be accepted.
According to one of the staff who resigned two weeks ago, some of the allowances they were entitled to were stopped while others were cut in half without any explanation.
“Most importantly, operation allowances that we used to enjoy were stopped without any reason. And we were still expected to put in our best. If I cannot be treated well while in service, how will my family be treated well when I am dead? It’s unfortunate that I had to leave after so much has been invested in me by this country,” the staff said.
Another personnel who said he would leave in the next few months said the condition of service was no longer palatable and service personnel were no longer motivated to work.
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“During the last dispensation, the service personnel were well motivated to do their job. We embark on dangerous covert assignments to keep the nation safe and all that we get in return is insults and suspicion from the leadership of the service.
“Fortunately, most of us are well trained so our services are needed by those countries that helped in training us. We cannot be jobless. If you get a better offer, it’s only natural to move” he said.
Some of the officials who have left already complained that there appears to be no future in staying in the service.
One of them said when she joined the service, it was like one family, without any regional or ethnic segmentation.
“What we have seen so far is perception of actions or inactions from the prism of where one comes from. We were told during training that your competence will make or mar you. That promise has been compromised. It’s no longer interesting,” she said.
No member of the service was ready to speak on record and the service has no official spokesman since the former spokesperson of the DSS, Marylyn Ogar left service.
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Ogar was compulsorily retired from service in September 2015, following investigation into allegations of bribery and professional misconducts against her.
However, a senior official of the service who spoke in confidence claimed that DSS operatives were exposed to unnecessary wealth in the last dispensation.
According to him, the unnecessary wealth was “capable of compromising operational duties.”
“There is no way the present leadership would have continued with the shenanigans that was perpetrated in the last dispensation. Apparently the leadership wants to return the service to its founding vision which is selfless service to the nation. It’s obvious that those who cannot fit in would naturally leave,” he said.
Recall that 65 cadet officers of the service who were undergoing training at the State Services Academy in Lagos, including a sibling of Ogar were asked to leave in September last year, few weeks to their passing out and no reason was given for their dismissal.
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