Nigeria’s Secret Service Gets More Directorates, Department In Reorganization

By Ayodele Oni

The Directorate of State Services, DSS,  has moved to enhance its operations with the establishment of more Directorate, while other units were upgraded to full Departments.

The newly established Directorates are Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management, Legal and Public Relations.

A memo to that effect reads:

“In line with the Management’s commitment towards expanding the Service frontiers of operations, better service delivery and professionalism, in the area of financial crime investigation, the DGSS has approved the establishment of Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Directorate to be domiciled under the Office of the Director General (ODG), NHSS.

“At the moment, the new Directorate will kick start in Financial Analysis and Investigation Department (FAID) with three Departments namely, Proceeds of Crime Recovery, Proceeds of Crime Management and Standards and Evaluation Unit.

“Cognisance of the need to enhance performance of Service personnel and their abilities to discharge the duties of their offices, as well as in line with the mandate of the Service as encapsulated in the National Security Agencies Act and Instrument No.1, 1999, Management has upgraded Legal and Public Relations Departments into full fledged Directorates to be headed by Directors.

“The Public Relations Department has been renamed Public Relations and Strategic Communications Directorate.

“It is instructive to note that the upgrading of Legal Department has become absolutely essential in view of the Service involvement in investigation and prosecution of suspects involved in State Crimes and allied matters.

“Activities of separatists, irredentist movements and social media influencers have also necessitated the establishment of Public Relations and Strategic Communications Directorate in order to counter propaganda and narratives capable of whipping up anti-government sentiments inimical to national security.

“The Directorate of Legal Services (DLS) will comprise four

Departments, namely: Criminal Cases Department (CCD);

Civil and Fundamental Human Rights Matters Department (CHRMD); Petitions, Discipline and Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee Matters Department (PDSM); and

Briefs, Policy Analysis, Judicial and Legislative Liaison Services Department (DPJLSD).

“The Directorate of Public Relations and Strategic Communications(PRSC)will have three Departments, namely: Public Relations and Strategic Communications Department (PRSCD); New Media and Protocol and Corporate Services Department(NMPCSD).”

Also established is forensic science department  to improve service delivery and efficiency.

The Department which is under the Directorate of Technical Services,

(DTS) is carved out from the existing Forensic Units of Digital Forensic, Mobile Forensic, Crime Science Forensic and Medical Forensic.

It is to be headed by an Assistant Director, Forensic Science (ADFS) and assisted by Five  Principal Staff Officers (PSO’s) and Eleven  Staff Officers (SO’s).