The recent resignation of the former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Yusuf Bichi stirred jubilation within the agency.
It would recalled that a video emerged online showing some DSS staff members allegedly celebrating in the wake of Bichi’s resignation.
Speaking on the controversy the viral video stirred, many DSS officers, who requested anonymity, expressed relief, describing Bichi’s exit as a “freedom from unprofessionalism.”
These DSS officers alleged several misconduct during Bichi’s tenure, particularly pointing to undue interference in the service’s operations by his family members, specifically his wife and son, Yusuf Bichi Jr.
According to the unnamed officers, the former DG family interference compromised the professional integrity of the agency.
A DSS officer, however, said personnel of the agency were happy with Bichi’s removal.
He said, “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 alleged that Bichi was indifferent to the welfare of workers.
The officer said, “The Federal Government increased our salary by 40 per cent, 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 per cent increment. However, there was a proposal to increase our salary by 25 per cent this year, but it has yet to be realised.”
Speaking on the recruitment of personnel, another secret agent described Bichi’s recruitment as nepotistic.
He further stated, “Bichi’s recruitments were arbitrary and lopsided. 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.
“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.
“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.
“Just two weeks ago, his wife slapped a DSS director in a northern state. She also slapped at least two deputy directors at airports.”
