The Director, of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Department of State Services, Peter Afunanya, has denied an allegation that the Director General of the Service, Yusuf Bichi, looted a subsidy grant meant for staff members
Afunanya, who noted that no such grant had been allocated to the service, promised that once it is available, the money would be disbursed to the staff.
Afunanya disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday.
He was reacting to an allegation made by an X user, @jacksonpbn, who accused Bichi of being corrupt among others.
He also said the “goodbye allowance” which the DG was accused of granting himself does not exist.
The statement partly read, “The Service hereby states that the allegations are entirely false. It wishes to clarify that neither the DG nor anyone acting on his directive has looted staff subsidy grant.
“No such grant has been made available to the Service and once that is allocated, staff will, as usual, receive what is due them.
“Mr Bichi has, in all ramifications, evidently catered for the welfare of active and retired personnel. This is common knowledge and can be verified.
“Similarly, the so called ‘goodbye allowance’ which the DG was accused of granting himself is non-existent. It is only an imagination of the writer and his sponsors.
“But assuming the DG is paid any severance package at the end of his tenure, how is that unethical and outside established public service rule?
“While at his mischief once again and the writer has continued to smear the image of Mr Bichi as well as present him as corrupt, facts at the DSS show otherwise. Recalled from retirement in 2018 and appointed the DGSS, Bichi is seen as spartan, accountable, transparent and indeed, incorruptible. He has remained resolute in running the Service and shown uncommon commitment in the management of its affairs. ”
While urging the citizens to disregard the allegations, he said the DG would seek redress at the court.
Afunanya said, “In view of the foregoing, the public is urged to disregard the falsehood being peddled by this known fake news merchant whose only stock in trade is to misinform as well as use his platforms to create division and violence. Meanwhile, the DGSS will take appropriate legal steps to seek redress.”
