ABUJA, Nigeria – Yushau A. Shuaib, a Nigerian public relations practitioner and founder of PRNigeria, has petitioned President Bola Tinubu following his suspension from the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru.
In a letter titled “Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms”, Shuaib described his suspension as “unjust, humiliating, and deeply distressing,” alleging harassment, cyberbullying, and exclusion based on publications that supported the federal government’s Digital and Marine Economy initiatives.
Removal Followed Publication of Non-Controversial Articles
Shuaib said the incident stemmed from a March 21, 2025 article titled “NIPSS Goes Digital”, published by PRNigeria.
Though he was not the article’s author or editor, he received a query from Acting Director of Studies, Barrister Nima Salman Mann.
He also alleged pressure from Directing Staff, Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha, to discard his original defence and submit a rewritten version dictated to him.
“I was denied the opportunity to speak or present my case when summoned before a disciplinary panel,” he stated.
“The panel relied solely on the altered response that did not reflect my true position.”
On April 7, 2025, he was issued a final warning—the first formal warning since joining the course in October 2024.
Internal Email Intercepted, Blue Economy Article Cited
Less than two months later, Shuaib received another query after NIPSS reportedly accessed and cited a private PRNigeria editorial email titled “Understanding the ‘Blue’ in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective”, dated April 25.
The article had not yet been published or shared externally at the time.
“The email was intercepted without authorisation. That’s a violation of privacy and constitutes cyberbullying and professional misconduct,” Shuaib said, adding that the article made no mention of NIPSS and was an independent opinion piece supporting a national agenda.
₦18.2 Million Fee Paid, Yet Denied Participation
Following his suspension on May 2, 2025, Shuaib was ordered to vacate the institute’s premises and removed from all communication platforms.
He was also excluded from the international study tour that formed part of the SEC 47 programme, despite paying the full ₦18.2 million fee.
Other participants were reportedly allowed to travel across Africa and other continents and received Estacodes for their tours.
Alleged Isolation, Health Impact, and Lack of Due Process
Shuaib claimed the experience led to a hypertension diagnosis at the NIPSS clinic. He also alleged that participants were later directed not to interact with him, leaving him socially and professionally isolated.
He appeared twice before an internal investigative committee but said he received no communication following the last appearance.
According to him, the NIPSS code of conduct lacks clarity on what qualifies as classified or public information.
“All my articles were based on publicly available national discourse and never revealed internal NIPSS content,” he said.
Call for Presidential Intervention and Policy Reform
In his petition to President Tinubu, Shuaib called for an independent investigation into the disciplinary process and alleged cyber-privacy breaches.
He also requested a review of his suspension and proposed the establishment of a communication policy to guide participants’ media engagement.
Shuaib further criticised what he described as the “excessive militarisation” of NIPSS, arguing it is at odds with best practices in global think tanks and academic institutions.
“All I seek is the opportunity to complete the course, reclaim my dignity, and continue contributing meaningfully to the development of our great nation,” he concluded.
As of the time of reporting, NIPSS has not issued a public statement in response to the allegations.
