The Department of State Services, DSS, on Thursday urged the House of Representatives to remove provisions allowing international organizations to fund its proposed Security Trust Fund, warning that foreign contributions could expose sensitive intelligence operations to external influence and compromise Nigeria’s national security.
The Service made its position known at a public hearing organized by the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence on bills seeking to strengthen the operational capacity of the country’s domestic intelligence agency through dedicated funding, professional training and research development.
Presenting its submission on the bill to establish the Department of State Services Trust Fund, the DSS, represented by Emmanuel Duabry, endorsed the legislation but proposed far-reaching amendments, including the deletion of provisions permitting grants, donations and endowments from international organizations.
The Service argued that accepting foreign funding for security operations could undermine institutional independence and expose intelligence activities to external scrutiny.
Duabry said, “Section 3, d, which permits grants, donations, and endowments from international organizations, should be expunged.
“Allowing foreign funding for a security-related Trust Fund raises serious concerns relating to sovereignty, operational confidentiality, and institutional independence. International funding arrangements may impose reporting and disclosure obligations capable of compromising sensitive security operations, including intelligence methods, procurement processes, and deployment strategies.
“There is also 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 DSS consequently proposed that the Trust Fund should only receive grants, donations and endowments from local organizations.
Despite its reservations, the DSS described the proposed legislation as a major step towards strengthening intelligence and security operations through sustainable financing.
According to the Service, the Fund would provide dedicated resources for intelligence gathering, counterterrorism operations and rapid response to emerging security threats, while reducing delays associated with conventional budgetary processes.
It said: “The Bill for an Act to establish the Department of State Services Trust Fund proposes the creation of a dedicated DSS Security Trust Fund aimed at ensuring stable and flexible financing for intelligence gathering, counterterrorism efforts, and broader national security operations.
“The Fund is designed to facilitate the acquisition of modern operational equipment, enhance training, and enable swift responses to emerging security challenges, while also minimizing delays often associated with conventional budgetary procedures and safeguarding the confidentiality required for sensitive activities.
“It is further intended to guarantee the availability of prompt funding during emergencies such as terrorism incidents, civil unrest, and other crises.”
The agency also proposed changes to the funding structure of the Trust Fund, arguing that the current bill leaves too much discretion to the National Assembly in determining annual allocations.
According to the DSS, a clearly defined funding formula or fixed percentage contribution would provide greater certainty and stability for long-term security planning.
The Service also recommended amendments to the composition of the proposed governing board.
It argued that the board should include mandatory legal representation and questioned the inclusion of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, describing it as a voluntary association without statutory backing.
The DSS proposed that the Nigerian Bar Association should nominate a representative with expertise in national security and human rights matters.
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It further recommended that the Board Secretary should be appointed by the President and must be a serving or retired DSS officer not below the rank of Assistant Director who is also a legal practitioner with at least 10 years post-call experience.
The agency additionally sought provisions allowing board members to resign through written notice to the President and empowering the President to remove members for misconduct, gross incompetence or inability to perform their duties.
Notwithstanding its recommendations, the DSS urged lawmakers to pass the bill.
“The bill represents a significant and commendable effort to strengthen the operational capacity of the Service through sustainable funding mechanisms. It is, therefore, in the best interest of national security that the Bill be passed into law,” it added.
The Service also raised concerns over another proposed legislation seeking to establish a Strategic Intelligence Management Institute.
According to the Duabry, the proposed institute substantially overlaps with the National Institute for Security Studies established under the National Institute for Security Studies, Establishment, Act, 2019.
It noted that both institutions would perform similar functions by providing strategic and specialized training for intelligence personnel and public officials.
To avoid duplication, the DSS recommended that the proposed institute be redesigned to focus exclusively on external intelligence operations and international intelligence cooperation in line with the mandate of the National Intelligence Agency.
The Service stated that: “The design and functions of the proposed Institute should be refocused to serve as a specialized training and capacity-building hub specifically oriented towards external intelligence, foreign intelligence operations, and international intelligence cooperation.
“This would ensure clear differentiation from the National Institute for Security Studies, which already provides generalized strategic security training.”
According to the DSS, such restructuring would eliminate institutional overlap, provide greater clarity of mandates and strengthen Nigeria’s external intelligence architecture.
The Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Ahmed Satomi, said the three bills under consideration were designed to strengthen the operational effectiveness of the DSS through sustainable funding, professional intelligence training and indigenous technological development.
“These bills are interlinked. One addresses funding, the second addresses professional training and coordination, and the third addresses indigenous capacity and technology. Together, they aim to position our intelligence agencies to better protect Nigerians and Nigeria’s national interest,” he said.
Satomi said the public hearing was convened to obtain expert opinions and stakeholder input before the bills proceed to the next legislative stage.
“Legislation is not an event; it is a process. This public hearing is the most democratic part of that process.
The committee chairman assured participants that all credible recommendations would be reflected in the committee’s final report to the House.
In his contribution, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by House Leader Prof Julius Ihonvbere, described national security as the most critical pillar for Nigeria’s survival and development.
According to him, challenges such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime and transnational organized crime require greater investment in intelligence, innovation and institutional capacity.
Abbas urged stakeholders to make constructive contributions to enrich the legislative process, stressing that public participation remains vital to effective lawmaking.
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