DSS DG Calls for Mandatory Recruitment of First-Class Graduates to Strengthen National Security
By DAYO ADESULU
– Security Chief Advocates Policy Shift in Intelligence Recruitment
– Calls for Public Support and Improved Perception of Security Agencies
– First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Applauds Women’s Leadership in DSS
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, has called for a policy mandating the recruitment of first-class graduates into the intelligence agency to enhance national security and intelligence operations.
Ajayi made this appeal during the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
Recruiting the Best Minds for National Security
In his lecture, titled “The Roles of the DSS in Security, Peacekeeping, and National Integration,” Ajayi emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in intelligence recruitment, advocating for a system akin to Israel’s selective admission process for universities.
Represented by DSS Deputy Director Mr. Patrick Ikenweiwe, the DG highlighted the importance of enlisting top academic performers to tackle evolving security challenges.
“Tell me, how would a ‘Dundee’ (dullard) be able to track a criminal gang composed of first-class brains? Intelligence work requires exceptional intellect, and if I had my way, academia should be required to supply us with a list of students who have excelled in their fields so that they would be mandated to serve this great nation,” he stated.
Ajayi stressed that the negative public perception of security agencies as adversaries rather than allies hampers intelligence gathering and peacebuilding efforts.
Evolving Security Challenges in Nigeria
Ikenweiwe outlined how security threats in Nigeria have evolved from traditional concerns such as sabotage and espionage to complex challenges like terrorism, insurgency, separatist agitations, militancy, cybercrime, and economic sabotage.
He reaffirmed the DSS’s commitment to addressing these threats through strategic collaborations with other security agencies and continuous stakeholder engagement.
DSS Mandate and Legal Framework
Speaking on the legal framework guiding DSS operations, Ikenweiwe cited the NSA Act CAP N74 LFN, 2024, and SSS Instrument No. 1 of 1999. The laws mandate the DSS to prevent and detect crimes against Nigeria’s internal security and provide intelligence support to the government.
“The instrument also demands that the DSS give timely advice to the government on all matters of national security interest. Most importantly, the service is empowered by the aforementioned legal frameworks to execute other functions as may be assigned by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” he stated.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Applauds DSS for Women’s Leadership
In a related development, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu received a DSS delegation, led by Deputy Director-General Mrs. Afolashade Adekayaoja, at the State House, Abuja.
The visit underscored the administration’s commitment to gender inclusivity in security leadership. Tinubu commended the DSS for appointing a woman to such a high-ranking position, emphasizing the need to recognize and promote women in leadership.
“Women who have proven themselves in their careers deserve recognition and leadership roles. This is a testament to my husband’s long-standing belief that women are highly responsible and committed,” she stated.
Adekayaoja expressed gratitude for the administration’s commitment to gender inclusivity and reaffirmed the DSS’s dedication to ensuring national security and stability.
A Call for Strategic Reforms in Intelligence Recruitment
With the push for compulsory recruitment of Nigeria’s brightest minds into intelligence services, the DSS aims to bolster its operational effectiveness in tackling evolving security threats and strengthening national peace and integration.
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