The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked the House of Representatives to remove provisions allowing international organisations to contribute funds to the proposed DSS Trust Fund, warning that such funding could threaten Nigeria’s national security.
The position was presented on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence on bills aimed at strengthening the operations of the DSS through dedicated funding, training and research.
A bill before the House of Representatives is designed to establish a framework to overhaul the funding of the secret police, which includes foreign sources.
The Bills are: the Department of State Services Trust Fund Bill, the Strategic Intelligence Management Institute Bill and the DSS Research and Development Institute Bill.
Representing the DSS at the hearing, Emmanuel Daubry described the proposed Trust Fund as a major step toward providing stable and flexible financing for intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism operations and other national security activities.
According to the Service, the Fund would facilitate the acquisition of modern operational equipment, improve personnel training, enable rapid responses to emerging threats and reduce delays associated with conventional budgetary processes.
The DSS said the Fund would also ensure the availability of emergency financing during crises such as terrorist attacks, civil unrest and other security emergencies.
While endorsing the overall objective of the legislation, the Service proposed a series of amendments.
The Service said foreign funding could expose sensitive intelligence operations to outside influence and compromise the agency’s independence.
“Allowing foreign funding for a security-related trust fund raises concerns about sovereignty, operational confidentiality and institutional independence,” Duabry said.
He noted that international donors may require reporting and disclosure obligations that could reveal sensitive information about intelligence operations, procurement activities and security strategies.
The DSS also warned that foreign funding could influence Nigeria’s security priorities, which may not align with the country’s challenges, such as terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
It, therefore, proposed that grants and donations to the Trust Fund should come only from local organisations.
Despite its concerns, the Service described the bill as an important step towards ensuring sustainable funding for intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism operations and emergency security responses.
The DSS however sought greater clarity on funding provisions, expressing concern that the Bill gives the National Assembly broad discretion to determine annual contributions to the Fund without specifying clear funding formulas for the Federal and State Governments.
According to the Service, fixed percentages or clearly defined contribution formulas would provide more predictable and sustainable financing.
The Service further proposed changes to the composition of the governing board, arguing that legal expertise should be mandatory.
It questioned the inclusion of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the board, noting that the forum is a voluntary association rather than a statutory body.
Instead, the DSS suggested that the Nigerian Bar Association nominate a representative with expertise in national security and human rights.
The Service also recommended that the board secretary be appointed by the President and 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.
To strengthen accountability, the DSS proposed provisions allowing board members to resign through written notice to the President and empowering the President to remove members for misconduct, incompetence or inability to perform their duties.
Despite its reservations, the DSS urged lawmakers to pass the Bill, describing it as a significant effort to strengthen the operational effectiveness of the Service through sustainable funding.
The Service also raised concerns over the proposed Strategic Intelligence Management Institute, warning that it could duplicate the functions of the National Institute for Security Studies established under the National Institute for Security Studies Act, 2019.
According to the DSS, both institutions would provide similar strategic and specialised training for intelligence personnel and public officials.
To avoid overlap, the Service recommended that the proposed institute be redesigned to focus exclusively on external intelligence, foreign intelligence operations and international intelligence cooperation in support of the mandate of the National Intelligence Agency.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, called for sustained investment in intelligence gathering, innovation, research and professional development.
He argued that Nigeria’s current security challenges require far more than conventional responses.
Speaker Tajudeen said security remains the foundation upon which every aspect of national development depends.
Represented by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, the Speaker said terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime and transnational organised crime continue to test Nigeria’s institutions and require more coordinated and technology-driven responses.
He noted that intelligence operations demand consistent funding, rapid response capability and modern operational resources.
According to him, the proposed DSS Trust Fund would help move the country away from unpredictable funding mechanisms toward a more sustainable framework capable of strengthening operational readiness.
“We cannot continue to demand exceptional commitment from our troops without first ensuring that they have the tools and support they need to succeed,” he said.
Tajudeen also stressed the importance of developing indigenous research and technological capabilities, arguing that Nigeria must increasingly create solutions tailored to its own geography, demographics, languages and security realities.
He described the proposed DSS Research and Development Bureau as a critical step toward building a more proactive intelligence system capable of anticipating threats rather than merely reacting to them.
