President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the State Security Service (SSS) to cancel the promotion exercise it conducted for its staff in the last days of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, due to “observed lapses.”
The directive was Buhari’s first order reversing his predecessor’s action since he assumed office a month ago. The order targets promotions that were conducted “from 31 March to date.”
An SSS memo, signed by one, Toma C. and dated July 3, 2015, urged those that benefitted from the exercise “to revert to their former ranks with immediate effect.”
A wide category of staff that were “promoted, converted and upgraded” by the exercise would be affected.
“In view of the observed lapses in the promotion exercise released from 31st March, 2015 to date, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has directed its suspension forthwith. The personnel affected include those promoted, converted and upgraded within the period under review,” the memo said.
“The DGSS has constituted a committee to handle the review of all the cases,” it said, urging its offices across the country to disseminate the information to all personnel.
President Buhari also cancelled a recently concluded recruitment exercise into the SSS, it was learnt.
Jonathan had approved last-minute appointments and promotions in various departments of government less than two months before leaving office, after he lost the 2015 presidential election to Buhari.
During the period, the SSS carried out a promotion exercise where it elevated senior members of the service to the next rank, including its spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar. The exercise had reportedly drawn criticisms from other members of the service who felt they had been shut out.
Last Thursday, Buhari removed the head of the SSS, Ita Ekpenyong, and appointed Lawal Musa Daura as its new director general.
Also, security sources informed Daily Trust on Sunday that the president had approved the redeployment of his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Abdulrahman Mani, from the Villa. He was replaced, by Bashir Abubakar, a former assistant director of operations of the SSS in Kebbi command.
A Presidency source has hinted Mani was sacked for revoking the order by the Aide-De-Camp to the President, Lt.-Col. Lawal Abubakar, removing operatives of the State Security Services from providing the close body protection to Buhari.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, simply said last night that the president felt embarrassed by the “counter-directive” issued by the CSO.
When contacted for comment on phone, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said he could not confirm the sack of the CSO as he was “not in town”.
Mani, had in a memo, dated June 26, had asked the SSS personnel to ignore the ADC’s order, saying it was a misrepresentation of Buhari’s directive.
The ADC had earlier issued a memo redeploying the DSS officials from 10 beats that they had previously taken charge within the State House and ordered military personnel and the Nigeria Police to take over the DSS officials’ duties of providing “close/immediate protection” for Buhari with immediate effect.
But the CSO had argued that the SSS personnel’s roles in the State House were backed by relevant statutes and gazetted instruments. He had listed such roles as including close body protection of the president in line with standard operational procedures and international best practices.
Mani was appointed CSO to the president in April, after he won the election.
The new CSO, sources said, was picked for the presidency job because of the neutrality he displayed during the 2015 elections, by refusing to dance to the tune of his boss in Kebbi to aid the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the poll in the state.
He was said to have been severely reprimanded for his action by the service and posted to its headquarters in Abuja as punishment.
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