Unrest in DSS as Retired Directors Continue Collecting Salaries in Office since 2020
There is growing concern within the Department of State Services (DSS) as several directors, who have officially retired, continue to occupy their positions and draw salaries, contrary to public service regulations.
Sources revealed to SaharaReporters on Monday that this issue is causing internal strife and demotivation among DSS employees. Several directors, despite reaching retirement, have not vacated their offices, violating established public service rules.
Prominent cases include Adeleke S. Ayodele, Mohammed Al Hassan Ndatsu, and Kamba Damana, who have remained in their posts years after their retirement dates. According to records, Adeleke S. Ayodele, who joined the service in August 1984 and retired in 2019, still serves as the Commandant of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), a DSS institution.
Similarly, Mohammed Al Hassan Ndatsu, enlisted in October 1988 and retired in 2020 upon reaching the age of 60, continues to function as the State Director of Security (SDS) in Kano State. Another example is Kamba Damana, who joined in April 1990 and retired on June 25, 2020, yet still serves as the director of the DSS Ikoyi Office.
This practice has tarnished the DSS’s reputation, promoting stagnation, mediocrity, and demoralizing other officers. One DSS official stated, “This is a blatant abuse of internal processes and engagement rules. It’s happening without challenge and is demoralizing for other officers aiming for career advancement within the service.”
Concerned officers have called on President Bola Tinubu to urge DSS management to review its records and promptly remove the retired directors. They also demand the recovery of all salaries and allowances paid to these directors post-retirement to serve as a deterrent to others.
Efforts to contact DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya for comments were unsuccessful as of press time.
