Report of lopsidedness in DSS recruitment taken in isolation, Presidency clarifies

“It is important to emphasize that it is in the interest of peace, stability and the general well-being of the nation that all component units are fairly represented in organizations such as this. Where this comes short, efforts must be made to correct such lop-sidedness as the DSS did between 2014 and 2016.”

The Presidency has clarified a report by an online medium, Premium Times, of an alleged lopsidedness in recruitment into the Department of State Service (DSS), describing the report as short of the quality of job expected of any investigative medium, being, according to it, that the online medium, saying the truth though, took its report in isolation of the context the recruitment was done.

It said all that had happened was a measure taken to redress the inequity in past recruitments done in the service between 2014 and 2016, even as it slammed the online medium for failing in its duty as an investigative medium expected to have deepened its findings to the root of the matter with a view to presenting complete truth and facts to the public.

In a statement titled, “Facts about DSS recruitment” and credited to Presidency, the facts about the recruitment were presented.

“In an organization that is very sensitive and an important one for national cohesion and stability such as the Department of State Services (DSS), there is always the need to ensure balance in recruitment and manning.  This is also true of institutions such as the Army, the Navy and Air force.

“Where such balancing in line with Federal Character is breached, the need arises from time to time, to find a way of redressing such inequity.

“This is the true story of the recruitment about a year-and-a half ago in the DSS in which states that were short-changed in previous recruitments were awarded slots to enable them achieve a fair representation.  This is what happened.

“The report in circulation by the Premium Times though true, was taken in isolation of the context it was done.  An investigative medium such as that one should have done a better job of this,” it said.

According to the release, “It is important to emphasize that it is in the interest of peace, stability and the general well-being of the nation that all component units are fairly represented in organizations such as this. Where this comes short, efforts must be made to correct such lop-sidedness as the DSS did between 2014 and 2016.”