NIPSS Boss Omotayo Expels Yushau Shuaib from Senior Course over Economic Commentaries

By Omowumi Omotosho

The Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, has directed the removal of Yushau Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria, from the Institute’s Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47. The action, according to NIPSS, was based on alleged “acts of misconduct and insubordination.”

This development follows a petition by Shuaib, in which he accused NIPSS of unfair practices and what he termed cyber harassment. In correspondence addressed to one of Shuaib’s professional associations, the NIPSS DG explained that the decision had the endorsement of the Institute’s management and stemmed from a disciplinary panel’s recommendation, which cited breaches of internal policies and confidentiality.

The official withdrawal letter, signed on behalf of the DG by Muhammad Kabir Suleiman, refrained from detailing the specific infractions attributed to Shuaib. It instead requested the submission of bank account details for the processing of a proportional refund of the fees paid for the programme.

Before this, Shuaib had written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, outlining his grievances and describing the experience at NIPSS as “unfair, degrading, and emotionally traumatic.” In his petition, titled “Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms,” he alleged harassment, cyberbullying, and professional ostracization—despite claiming full compliance with institutional guidelines.

He revealed that he was suddenly directed to leave the NIPSS facility on May 2, 2025, the day his suspension took effect , a decision that, according to him, left his family members and colleagues stunned, especially given that other course participants continued without disruption.

Shuaib contends that the queries against him were unjustified, pointing out that they referenced harmless writings, including a report titled “NIPSS Goes Digital” , an article he insists he neither wrote nor edited and a favorable commentary on the “Blue Economy” that made no reference to NIPSS whatsoever.

Highlighting what he described as unfair treatment, Shuaib said he was singled out with a directive barring him from introducing himself as a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (mnipr) during plenary gatherings. “This was especially puzzling,” he noted, “because others openly identified themselves with professional bodies or informal titles like ‘Dagger’ and ‘Sword’ without issue.”

He also alleged that during the disciplinary proceedings, he was not allowed to properly defend himself. According to him, the panel’s decision was based on an altered version of his written submission one he claims was dictated by Rear Admiral A. A. Mustapha on behalf of the acting Director of Studies, Barrister Nima Salman Mann.

The communications expert also alleged that NIPSS unlawfully accessed a confidential PRNigeria editorial email account, calling the action a grave violation of digital privacy, an instance of cyber harassment, and a clear case of unethical conduct.

Shuaib went on to disclose that, despite having paid the entire N18.2 million fee for the programme, he was barred from participating in SEC 47’s international study visits and deliberately isolated from his peers. He said the experience took a toll on his mental health, resulting in a hypertension diagnosis at the institute’s medical centre.

In his petition to President Bola Tinubu, Shuaib is calling for an impartial probe into both the disciplinary measures taken against him and the alleged breach of his digital privacy. He is also appealing for a reassessment of his suspension and exclusion, while urging the introduction of a formal communication framework for participants at NIPSS.

Beyond condemning what he described as the “overbearing militarization” of NIPSS’s learning environment, Shuaib pointed out that the institute lacks an official communication guideline a gap that, according to him, leaves participants uncertain about the boundaries between public, restricted, and classified information in media or social platforms.

When reached for comment, Shuaib noted that NIPSS had failed to provide any clarification regarding his standing for almost two months since his suspension, despite earlier efforts by the institute to have him expelled. “I’m still expecting their correspondence to me directly, as they stated in the suspension letter they addressed to me about two months ago,” Shuaib said.