If Nigeria were a Nollywood movie, the Department of State Services (DSS) would be that nosy neighbor who is in every scene—wedding, burial, birthday, even school PTA meetings. So it wasn’t a surprise when the DSS decided that the trade union vs. Dangote conflict was their new calling. After all, why limit yourself to chasing terrorists when you can also mediate cement prices?
The trade union had been flexing its muscles, threatening strikes and demanding concessions, while Dangote, Nigeria’s richest man and unofficial Minister of Everything, was insisting on “market forces.” Enter DSS, Nigeria’s favorite jack-of-all-meddling, declaring: “We cannot fold our arms and watch Dangote and the unions drag this nation into chaos!”
One has to ask: was chaos ever far away in the first place?
DSS: From Security to Price Control Authority
Traditionally, the DSS was supposed to keep the country safe from espionage and sabotage. But somehow, their portfolio has expanded. Today, they’re the unofficial Price Control Authority, Labour Arbitration Tribunal, and, if given half a chance, probably the Referees in Nigerian Idol.
So while Dangote is busy explaining that trucks and dollars don’t mix, and the union is threatening to down tools unless cement is sold at “democracy prices,” the DSS has parked itself in the middle—looking like a referee at a WWE match.
And just like in WWE, the referee always mysteriously gets knocked out.
Who Sent You?
The burning question: who sent the DSS? Nigerians didn’t. The unions didn’t. Dangote certainly didn’t—he can buy his own security. Yet the DSS shows up everywhere like an unwanted WhatsApp broadcast.
Some Nigerians now suspect the DSS just doesn’t like being left out. Boko Haram? They’re in. Kidnapping? They’re in. Fuel scarcity? They’re in. Now trade union disputes? Front row seats. If NEPA takes your light, don’t be shocked when the DSS knocks on your door asking if you want them to mediate with your transformer.
Dangote, the Union, and the DSS Sandwich
Picture this: Dangote on one side with his billionaire calm, the union on the other side with placards, and in the middle, the DSS shouting: “Both of you, respect yourselves! This is a threat to national security!”
Only in Nigeria will the intelligence agency be more interested in cement prices than in intelligence. But perhaps, just perhaps, the DSS has cracked it: why fight terrorists when you can fight the cost of cement? After all, one destroys buildings with bombs, the other destroys families with high prices.
Meanwhile, Nigerians are on the sidelines, paying ₦12,000 for a bag of cement and wondering how DSS involvement helps anybody build a house. Unless, of course, the DSS is planning to build new detention centers for striking workers.
Final Thoughts
Either way, Nigerians are the ones left homeless.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 
The Department of State Services (DSS) intervenes to settle industrial disputes by focusing on national security, as a breakdown in industrial relations can lead to social instability and economic disruption. They practically intervene when an industrial dispute poses a threat to peace and stability, and attempt to de-escalate conflicts and facilitate resolution through dialogue and negotiation to prevent broader socio-economic impacts.
Although certain Government Ministries handle day-to-day industrial relations, the DSS gets involved when disputes become a matter of national security.
These interventions align with its mandate on taking proactive steps to prevent any threat to national security.
The following points highlights some of the functions they carry out, as highlighted in the roles of that agency.
National Security: The DSS’s primary role is national security, and a major industrial dispute that causes widespread unrest or economic sabotage is a direct threat to this mandate.
De-escalation and intervention: The DSS can step in to prevent a dispute from escalating, especially when it involves essential services or has the potential for widespread social disruption, as seen in the intervention regarding the Dangote refinery dispute.
Promoting dialogue: The DSS encourages parties to resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation rather than strikes, which can be detrimental to the economy and social order.
Preventing negative consequences: By intervening, the DSS aims to mitigate negative consequences like damage to critical infrastructure, the potential loss of jobs, and the destabilization of the economy.
Meanwhile, the DSS’ role differs from the Ministry of Labour and Employment which is the primary government body for handling industrial disputes, managing the formal processes like mediation and arbitration under acts like the Trade Disputes Act. The DSS’s role is supplementary and focused on the security implications of a dispute, rather than the legal or contractual aspects, which fall under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Suffice to say that, the agency has not erred by intervening in a matter that could have threatened the economy of the country due to sabotage by a few individuals.
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As a Labour Union, it is important to note that the SSS has a statutory mandate for the proactive prevention and detection of threats to Nigeria’s internal security, particularly those involving economic security, as clearly outlined in their Instrument No. 1. Use it to guide yourself according
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