By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CeleOkaf11
The Department of State Service (DSS) has described as "misleading and wrong", a publication by TrackaNG-BudgIT, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) budget implementation monitor, claiming that it's findings reveals that the State Security Service's Counter Terrorism Centre located in Bauchi state, is not under construction in spite of it's provision in the budget.
According to a statement late Tuesday evening, February 22nd, 2022 by the DSS spokesman, Dr Peter Afunanya, the DSS said that TrackaNG-BudgIT, had, on Saturday, February 19, 2022, posted on it's social media handles (Facebook and Twitter), that the construction of DSS Counter-Terrorism Training Centre, Gubi Dam, Bauchi State allegedly valued at N1.1 Billion in the 2021 Federal Government budget was not executed. TrackaNG-BudgIT, among other claims, also added that it “visited the site and discovered they only renovated a primary school and mosque adjacent to the site”.
But the DSS, in it's defence through it's reputation manager, Dr Afunnanya, dismissed TrackaNG-BudgIT allegations as unfounded. With revealing pictures apparently contradicting Tracka's claims, the DSS backed up it's defence, expressing great dismay at what it described as "the shoddy way Tracka embarked on its project verification exercise as well as the manner it drew conclusions without the slightest efforts to be diligent".
Afunnanya stated in the statement by the Security Service that the "DSS findings have shown that the Tracka Field Officer did not visit the project site where about 17 structures are simultaneously being executed by different contractors. It is instructive to note that the projects are at different levels of completion. It may also be noted that the primary school in question was a dilapidated Nomadic Education Centre located at Galga, near Gubi Dam, Firo, where the CTC is located.
"The Service, in conjunction with its Land School (site of the CTC), found the primary school in a bad state and decided to renovate it as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, typical of the Service wherever it has such public facility and cohabits with the community. As evidenced by attached pictures, the said school was rehabilitated and handed over to the appreciative Galga community whose children now use better facilities including desks at the school. Surprisingly, Tracka only stopped its verification of the budget implementation at the primary school from where it drew hasty conclusions of non-implementation. What a lazy way of discharging a mandate.
"Though not opposed to pursuit of accountability and transparency by NGOs, the Service is averse to resorting to fake news and outright misinformation as a way of enlightening the public. To seek redress, the Service has brought the misinformation carried out by Tracka to its Management and in that regard sought a refutal and unreserved apology.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the CTC projects as captured in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 budgets are ongoing (See attached pictures of the site). The DSS and its Director General, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, are committed to transparency, accountability and service. It is simply for his integrity that Mr. Bichi was called out from retirement to head the foremost intelligence organization. He is not given to corrupt tendencies. So far, he has shown exemplary, purposeful and transformational leadership at the DSS.
"Accordingly, the public is hereby properly guided and should therefore disregard the initial story by Tracka, which is expected to show evidence that disciplinary action is being taken against its staff that misled it. This is how to be accountable and transparent.
"Meanwhile, the CTC is open to anyone who may wish to visit it to verify the level of work there. Going forward, the Service will not take lightly attempts by individuals or organisations like Tracka to defame it", Dr Afunnanya warned. NNL.
