The Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Professor Ayo Omotayo, has defended the expulsion of Yushau Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria, from its Senior Executive Course 47.
In a letter addressed to a professional body affiliated with Shuaib, the DG cited “misconduct and disregard for constituted authorities” as the reasons for his expulsion.
The action followed recommendations from the Institute’s disciplinary committee. However, the letter, signed on behalf of the DG by Muhammad Kabir Suleiman, did not outline any specific infraction.
In a bizarre twist, the institute also requested Shuaib’s bank details to process a prorated refund of his ₦18.2 million course fee.
The expulsion follows a petition by Shuaib to President Bola Tinubu, where he described his treatment at NIPSS as “unjust, humiliating, and deeply distressing.” Titled “Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms,” his petition accuses the institute of harassment, cyberbullying, and professional ostracisation, despite his claim of full compliance with its guidelines.
According to Shuaib, he was abruptly ordered to leave the NIPSS premises following his suspension on May 2, 2025, a move that shocked his family and professional colleagues.
He cited numerous grievances including being queried for articles he neither authored nor edited, such as “NIPSS Goes Digital”, and being forbidden from using his professional title “mnipr” (Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations) during plenary, while others reportedly used informal identifiers like “Dagger” and “Sword” without restriction.
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Shuaib also accused the disciplinary panel of denying him a chance to defend himself. Instead, he alleges that a rewritten response — allegedly imposed by Rear Admiral A. A. Mustapha on behalf of Acting Director of Studies Nima Salman Mann — was used in his name.
In a more serious claim, Shuaib said NIPSS accessed PRNigeria’s internal editorial email, a move he called a violation of digital privacy and professional ethics. He also stated he was excluded from the institute’s international study tours and isolated from SEC 47 participants, despite fully paying all required fees.
He reported that the ordeal caused him psychological distress, eventually resulting in a hypertension diagnosis at the institute’s clinic.
In his letter to the president, Shuaib requested an independent investigation into the disciplinary process, clarification of participant communication guidelines, and a review of his expulsion.
He criticized what he termed the “excessive militarisation” of the institute’s academic culture and its lack of a clearly defined communication policy — issues he says led to inconsistent application of rules and a toxic learning environment.
As of mid-June 2025, Shuaib said he had received no formal update on his status since the initial suspension notice nearly two months ago. “I’m still expecting their correspondence,” he noted.
The case has raised broader concerns about transparency, fairness, and professional conduct within one of Nigeria’s top policy training institutions.
TheEagleOnline
