DSS Operatives

The  Federal Character Commission (FCC) said it has begun investigations of alleged lopsidedness in the recent recruitment carried out by the Department of State Services (DSS.

Dr. Shetima Abba, Chairman, FCC said on Monday that the Commission has already asked DSS to defend itself against the allegations.

Media reports had indicated that recent recruitments by the secret police unduly favoured the Northern part of the country contrary to section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

But Abba said investigations would be carried out to determine if the DSS is in breach of the constitutional provision.

“In the Federal Character Commission, we are looking at the total number of indigenes of each state in a particular organisation. With the DSS, until we look at the total number on the nominal roll and compare it with the recruitment recently made, we cannot categorically say anything yet.

“The FCC has given the DSS three months to respond. If they don’t respond, whatever sanction that is being applied shall be taken. No answer has been given by the DSS because the DG is not in the country.

“Similar lopsided recruitment has been made in the past. That was in 2014-2016 which people complained about. We want to now go in to look at the total number from each state and this will determine our action.

“Although I have not seen the nominal roll I believe this one might be a corrective measure. We have already written to the DSS to supply us with the details of the recruitment and the details of their nominal roll including those who applied and those shortlisted so that we can confirm if the recruitment is lopsided or not. If we discover that it is lopsided, we will advise them appropriately.

“ They have to provide us with details of their manpower across the states.

“The advertisement the DSS did was internal on their website. That was the reason we wrote to them to tell us the processes they used, we had earlier sent them our own processes of recruitment before and after they recruited,” said Abba who added that the management of DSS is aware of FCC procedures and guidelines of advertisements.

The Nation