DG Breaks Silence on Compulsory Recruitment of First-Class Graduates into DSS

• In a recent lecture at the University of Ilorin, DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi called for a policy to recruit first-class graduates into the intelligence agency to strengthen national security
• Ajayi emphasised the need for exceptional intellect to tackle sophisticated criminal networks, drawing parallels to Israel’s selective recruitment system
• Additionally, he highlighted the importance of changing public perception of security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and peacebuilding efforts

Nigeria - The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, has urged the implementation of a policy mandating the recruitment of first-class graduates into the intelligence agency to enhance national security.

Ajayi made this call during the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

In his lecture, titled “The Roles of the DSS in Security, Peacekeeping, and National Integration,” Ajayi stressed the necessity for a paradigm shift in recruitment and staffing within security agencies to ensure only the most talented minds are enlisted.

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Represented by the DSS Deputy Director, Mr. Patrick Ikenweiwe, Ajayi advocated for recruiting top academic performers into the DSS as a compulsory national policy, drawing a parallel to Israel’s selective university admission system.

Changing public perception of security agencies

According to PUNCH, Ajayi emphasised the need for a shift in public perception, noting that many Nigerians view security agencies as adversaries rather than allies.

He warned that such attitudes negatively impact intelligence gathering, peacebuilding, and national integration.

Highlighting the critical role of intelligence agencies in safeguarding national security, Ajayi argued that intelligence work requires exceptional intellect to tackle sophisticated criminal networks.

Comparing recruitment Policies

Citing Israel’s university admission system, Ajayi said, “Like I know, in Israel, there is one examination that students take to get admitted into the university. The moment you score above 70 marks, you have no option but to be sent to the university there.” He contended that intelligence work demands high intellectual capacity to track and combat criminal activities effectively.

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Advocacy for first-class graduates in intelligence agencies

Ajayi stated, “Tell me how would a ‘Dundee’ (dullard) be able to keep security in a criminal gang that is constituted of First Class people? You know, it takes intellect to track criminality.”

He further proposed that academia should supply the DSS with the details of students who have excelled in their various fields of study so that they would be mandated to serve the nation.

Tackling complex security Cchallenges

Addressing Nigeria’s security landscape, Ikenweiwe noted that traditional threats such as sabotage, subversion, and espionage have evolved into more complex challenges, including terrorism, insurgency, separatist agitations, militancy, cybercrime, and economic sabotage.

He reaffirmed the DSS’s commitment to tackling these threats through strategic collaborations with sister agencies and continuous stakeholder engagement.

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Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian Department of State Services (DSS) stands as a sentinel, safeguarding the nation's internal security.

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The DSS, a successor to the National Security Organization, was established to address the evolving threats within Nigeria.

Source: Legit.ng