The resignation of Yusuf Bichi as the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) has sparked a wave of reactions within the agency, with many officers expressing relief at his departure.
Describing Bichi’s exit as a “freedom from unprofessionalism,” some DSS personnel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, pointed to various allegations of misconduct during his tenure.
According to these officers, Bichi’s leadership was marred by undue interference from his family, particularly his wife and son, Yusuf Bichi Jr. They claimed that this interference compromised the professional integrity of the DSS and led to widespread dissatisfaction among the ranks.
In the wake of his resignation, a video surfaced online showing DSS staff members allegedly celebrating Bichi’s departure. The video quickly went viral on social media, fueling further discussion. However, an X user named Sanusi Jibrin offered a different perspective, asserting that the video was recorded at the DSS office in Kogi State and was actually in celebration of Adeola Ajayi’s appointment as the new DSS Director-General. Ajayi, who had previously served as a director in the Kogi State command, was welcomed warmly by the local staff.
Despite this, some DSS officers maintained that Bichi’s removal was a cause for celebration. One officer remarked, “We believed his regime was a punishment for us. He impeded the career advancement of many officers by extending the service years of those due to retire. Some senior officers, who were due for retirement in 2021 and 2022, were retained in the service.”
Another officer criticized Bichi’s indifference to the welfare of DSS personnel, highlighting that the agency’s salary increase, approved by the Federal Government, was not implemented under his leadership. “The Federal Government increased our salary by 40 percent, but there was no implementation. We were earning more than the police before, but the police are now earning more than us because they implemented their 40 percent increment,” the officer noted.
Recruitment practices under Bichi were also called into question, with accusations of nepotism and favoritism. “Bichi’s recruitments were arbitrary and lopsided,” another secret agent alleged.
“Three different training sessions have been conducted for some people we didn’t know when they were recruited this year alone. Most of the newly recruited personnel are northerners.”
The officer further alleged, “His first recruitment in 2019 brought in either 420 or 450 persons from Bichi Local Government Area in Kano alone. In the history of the service, 450 was the maximum recruitment we ever had before Bichi, but he recruited 1,000 personnel at once.”
Concerns were also raised about the influence wielded by Bichi’s family. “There was no southerner among the national directors and deputy directors at the headquarters until January this year when he was directed by the Presidency following a petition. His wife is another issue; she abused her husband’s office. His son, too, was power drunk,” the officer said. He also recounted incidents of physical abuse, stating, “Just two weeks ago, his wife slapped a DSS director in a northern state. She also slapped at least two deputy directors at airports.”
Debo Adeniran, Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, weighed in on the situation, suggesting that the alleged celebrations of Bichi’s resignation could have multiple interpretations. “That staff and colleagues are celebrating his exit, it’s neither here nor there. It could be that he is very, very strict or it could be that he has not been taking care of their welfare,” Adeniran said.
“It could also be that he didn’t allow them to do their work the way they wanted to do it. And maybe his exit will allow them to prove their mettle, that they could work better than they were doing under him.”
The controversy surrounding Bichi’s resignation has left a mixed legacy, with some viewing his departure as a step toward restoring professionalism within the DSS, while others believe it reflects deeper issues within the agency.
