-Cites risks to sovereignty, intelligence confidentiality, and external interference
The Department of State Services (DSS) has raised a red flag over a legislative proposal to allow international organisations to fund the country’s domestic intelligence operations. The Service warned that such a move could compromise Nigeria’s national security, expose sensitive intelligence methods, and allow foreign powers to dictate the country’s security priorities.
The DSS made its position known on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence. The hearing focused on three pivotal bills aimed at establishing a Department of State Services Trust Fund and a Strategic Intelligence Management Institute.
The Danger of Foreign ‘Grants’
While endorsing the establishment of a Trust Fund to provide stable financing for counter-terrorism and intelligence gathering, the DSS, represented by Emmanuel Duabry, took a firm stand against Section 3(d) of the proposed bill. The section currently permits the fund to receive grants, donations, and endowments from international organisations.
“Section 3(d) should be expunged,” Duabry told the lawmakers. “Allowing foreign funding for a security-related Trust Fund raises serious concerns relating to sovereignty, operational confidentiality, and institutional independence.”
He argued that international funding often comes with “reporting and disclosure obligations” that could force the DSS to reveal sensitive procurement processes, intelligence methods, and deployment strategies to external actors.
“There is a risk that foreign funding may introduce external influence over domestic security priorities, which may not always align with Nigeria’s specific security realities, including insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping,” the Service warned.
Push for Board Reforms and Financial Stability
Beyond funding sources, the DSS proposed a major shake-up of the proposed Trust Fund’s Governing Board. The agency questioned the inclusion of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the board, describing it as a voluntary association without statutory backing.
Instead, the DSS recommended that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) nominate a representative with expertise in national security and human rights to ensure legal and ethical oversight.
Furthermore, the Service urged the National Assembly to move away from “discretionary” annual allocations. It proposed a fixed percentage contribution or a clearly defined funding formula to provide the financial certainty needed for long-term security planning and rapid response to emergencies.
Addressing Institutional Overlap
The DSS also voiced opposition to the creation of a Strategic Intelligence Management Institute in its current form. It argued that the proposed institute’s functions substantially overlap with the existing National Institute for Security Studies (NISS).
To avoid the duplication of roles and waste of resources, the DSS recommended that the new institute be refocused exclusively on *external* intelligence and international cooperation, aligning it with the mandate of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) rather than domestic intelligence.
Parliamentary Assurance
In response, the Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Hon. Ahmed Satomi, assured the Service that the legislative process is designed to be inclusive.
“Legislation is not an event; it is a process. This public hearing is the most democratic part of that process,” Satomi said. He noted that the bills are interlinked to address funding, professional training, and indigenous technological development.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, echoed this sentiment, describing national security as the “most critical pillar” for Nigeria’s survival. He stressed that the House remains committed to investing in innovation and institutional capacity to combat cybercrime, banditry, and transnational organised crime.
The committee is expected to review the DSS’s recommendations before presenting a final report for a third reading and subsequent passage of the bills.
