Yushau Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria, has petitioned President Bola Tinubu over his suspension from the NIPSS Senior Executive Course 47, which he claims was due to articles supporting the government’s digital and blue economy reforms.
In his petition titled “Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms,” Shuaib claimed that his articles—although fully compliant with institutional rules—were wrongly used to justify his suspension, leading to professional ostracisation, emotional distress, and violation of digital privacy. He further accused NIPSS of harassment and cyberbullying.
Shuaib’s troubles reportedly began after PRNigeria published an article on 21 March 2025 titled “NIPSS Goes Digital,” which applauded the institute’s paperless transformation in line with federal digital policy.
Although he did not author or edit the article, he was issued a query by Acting Director of Studies, Nima Salman Mann.
He also alleges that Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha pressured him to discard his initial written defence and submit a version dictated by the institute.
Following a disciplinary hearing where he said he was denied the opportunity to speak, Shuaib received a formal warning letter—the only one since his programme began in October 2024.
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Matters worsened after a second query was issued on 28 April 2025 based on an internal PRNigeria editorial email discussing the “Blue Economy.” The email, which was never published, had been intercepted without authorisation—an act Shuaib described as a serious breach of digital privacy.
In his petition, Shuaib outlined the mental health impact of the ordeal, noting that he developed hypertension and suffered isolation after fellow course participants were instructed to avoid him.
Despite paying the full ₦18.2 million tuition, he was excluded from international study tours granted to other SEC 47 members.
He further revealed that several other participants also faced sanctions for minor or subjective issues, such as praising a state governor, arriving late due to emergencies, or engaging in external speaking opportunities.
Shuaib told an internal committee that NIPSS lacked a clear communication policy to guide media engagement.
He insists his writings referenced only public national topics, without revealing classified content. No formal response has been communicated to him following his appearances before the committee.
Calling on President Tinubu to intervene, Shuaib demanded an independent investigation, a reversal of his suspension, and reform of communication policies at NIPSS.
He also criticised the overly militarised environment at the institute, contrasting it with global think tanks that encourage constructive dissent.
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