Chairman and members of the house of Representatives committee on National security and Intelligence at the DSS Headquarters. Photo: Ibrahim Shehu
The house of representatives committee on national security and intelligence has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for the fight against crime through an “effective” intelligence service.
The Chairman of the committee, Sha’aban Sharada was speaking on behalf of his colleagues when he led them to an oversight function at the DSS headquarters in Abuja.
Mr Sharada said kidnapping, banditry and terrorism “have been reduced in the country” because of the DSS’s “stakeholders input approach” in delivering its statutory mandate.
He commended the director-general of the service for “working to transform” the organisation to “attain prominence” in protecting Nigerians.
“The objective of the exercise is to access or evaluate your performance in implementing the 2022 budget and it is also carried out to discharge its constitutional mandate of efficient service delivery through judicious public expenditure management,” the Committee chairman said.
“It is significant to note that the level of crime, especially kidnapping, banditry and terrorism, has reduced considerably despite the approaching 2023 general election, due to the inclusive approach of the DG in utilising stakeholders’ input in the delivery of its statutory mandate of the service.”
In his remarks, the Director-General, DSS, Yusuf Bichi promised that the Service would continue to spend its budgetary allocation judiciously, adding that “changes” would be seen when next the lawmakers visit the organisation’s headquarters.
Mr Bichi, who expressed appreciation to the Committee for it’s support to the service, assured members of putting to “judicious” use “all funds appropriated” to it.
The lawmakers were conducted around the DSS facility by the organisation’s spokesman, Peter Afunaya.
Reporting by Ibrahim Shehu; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor