By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The Department of State Services (DSS) has put in place comprehensive effort at ensuring and strengthen intra and interagency cooperations in view of their separate and combined roles in the forthcoming elections.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, made this known in a statement on dated Monday January 23, 2023 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER.
According to the statement, the Service held a four day Strategic Workshop for its State Directors of Security and Heads of Institutions at its National Headquarters in Abuja, between 18th and 21st January as part of its preparedness for the general elections.
During the exercise, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who presented a keynote address on the preparation of his Commission towards the elections, assured the DSS of INEC’s determination to deliver free, fair and credible election.
Also, the Commission, through its Director of Legal, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, educated participants on the Electoral Act 2022 and its implications for Security agencies, while the Service, on its part, reviewed the security situation in the country and assured INEC of its support which is in line with the President’s pronouncement to the world to bequeath a free and fair election.
“As part of related trainings and courses outlined for personnel for the period, a capacity building seminar in Public Relations was declared open by the DGSS today, 23rd January, 2023 for mid-level officers drawn from the State Commands. Resource persons from the media, public relations practice and the academia are participating in the seminar.
“The DGSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi CFR fwc used the occasions to reiterate the need for professionalism and neutrality of personnel in the discharge of the Service’s mandate before, during and after the general elections. Of note was that at the end of the strategic workshop, participants pledged to work in collaboration with sister agencies, INEC and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that peaceful elections are conducted across the country,” the statement said.
In a related development, The DEFENDER reports that, the DSS on 16th January, 2023 commenced a two-week Joint Service training programme at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja with participants drawn from the country’s Armed Forces, Police and other law enforcement and response agencies.
“The Course was initiated by the Service to strengthen interagency relations in view of their separate and combined roles in the forthcoming elections. The Joint Service Course is designed to promote interagency collaboration and efficiency during the elections,” Peter Afunanya, the DSS Spokesman, said.
