Last Updated on November 21, 2021
Have you ever wondered how much the State Security Service (SSS) officers are earning? This article contains the current salary structure of the State Security Service (SSS).
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About the State Security Service (SSS)
The State Security Service can also be referred to as the Department of State Services (DSS). This body is responsible for intelligence gathering in Nigeria. The State Security Service is directly controlled by the presidency and their heads are chosen by the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Nationwide event security Adviser is appointed by the president to manage the affairs of the State Security Service and the NSA also has a say in the appointments and operations of the State Security Service.
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Their function includes protecting all senior government officials, which include the governors of the 36 states in Nigeria and the President Federal Republic of Nigeria. When any foreign envoy comes to Nigeria, it is also the duty of the State Security Service to protect the foreign envoy.
Functions of the State Security Service (SSS)
Just as hinted earlier, the State Security Service is saddled with the responsibility of protecting foreign envoys, state governors, the President Federal Republic of Nigeria and all other top government officials.
In addition, they protect Nigeria from any domestic threat. They also uphold and are responsible for enforcing criminal law in Nigeria. Both the federal and state governments depend on the State Security Service for criminal justice services. The Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker House of Representatives and other top officials are also protected by the State Security Service.
Aside from protecting these top government officials, the men of the State Security Service are also responsible for protecting members of family of these government officials. Furthermore, the State Security Service is responsible for protecting all past presidents as well as their spouses. If anyone is running for presidency, that person and his vice presidential candidate must be protected by the State Security Service too. However, this form of protection is not extended to all the candidates; only very popular candidates, who may have become very popular and may, therefore attract threats are the ones protected by the State Security Service.
Security threats in Nigeria and elsewhere can evolve and the State Security Service is expected to adapt itself to new forms of threat that may surface. They are responsible for counter-insurgency activities and counter-terrorism.
SSS Salary 2022
We can reveal to you that the Director-General of the DSS earns up to N1.3 million per month, according to a credible source of information. What about the SSS wage in Nigeria for the lowest ranks?
According to news, they are paid at least 50% more than their Nigerian counterparts in the same ranks. As a result, if a Nigerian police sergeant earns around 50,000 Naira per month, the same sergeant in the DSS earns around 75,000 Naira per month.
SSS Rank Profiles in Nigeria
Despite the fact that anything pertaining to the Nigerian State Security Service is said to be confidential, valuable information finds its way into the public domain. The rank profile of this group of professionals appears to be close to that of other government security organizations such as the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce, and, of course, the Nigerian police.
Where we were unable to obtain specifics of the SSS’s pay structure, we were able to obtain their rank profile. Non-officers, junior officers, senior officers, and high-ranking officers are the four levels that one must go through to reach the highest level in the Nigerian State Security Service. The ranks are as follows:
Non-officers
- Recruit
- Private
- Lance Corporal
- Corporal
- Sergeant
- Staff Sergeant
Junior Officers
- Second Lieutenant
- Lieutenant
- Captain
Senior Officers
- Major
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Colonel
High Ranking officers
- Brigadier General
- Major General
- Lieutenant General
- General
As can be seen from the list above, an officer must climb 16 ranks before becoming the SSS’s boss. There are six stages in the first stage for non-officers, followed by three steps for junior officers, and the same for senior officers. The remaining four steps are presented at the high-ranking officer level, totaling 16 steps.