NIPSS suspends PRNigeria Publisher over articles backing digital, blue economy reforms

By PRNigeria

A Nigerian public relations professional, Yushau A. Shuaib, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over what he describes as “unjust, humiliating, and deeply distressing” treatment at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, where he was suspended from the Senior Executive Course, SEC 47 allegedly over harmless articles supporting the President’s Digital and Blue Economy agenda.

In a detailed petition titled “Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms,” Mr Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria and a Golden World Award recipient of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), accused the institute of harassment, cyberbullying, and professional ostracisation, despite his full compliance with institutional guidelines and ethical publishing practices.

Mr Shuaib revealed that following his suspension on May 2, 2025, he was asked to vacate the NIPSS premises immediately. The abrupt action shocked his family and colleagues, who were left to speculate on the rationale, especially since all other participants remained in the programme.

“This petition sets the record straight and seeks to prevent false insinuations that could damage my reputation,” he stated.

Mr Shuaib recounted that on October 28, 2024—shortly after receiving an international award in Belgrade—he was nominated by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to participate in the prestigious SEC 47 course. He disengaged from his company, Image Merchants Promotion Ltd, and joined the course in good faith.

However, on March 21, 2025, PRNigeria published a story titled “NIPSS Goes Digital,” which Shuaib neither authored nor edited. The article commended the institute’s transition to a paperless system and highlighted its alignment with the Tinubu’s digital transformation agenda. Despite this positive coverage, Shuaib was issued a query by Barrister Nima Salman Mann, the Acting Director of Studies, and was subsequently pressured by Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha a Directing Staff to discard his initial written defence and submit a revised version dictated by them.

On April 7, 2025, Mr Shuaib was summoned before a disciplinary panel but was denied the opportunity to speak or present his case. The panel relied exclusively on the rewritten response imposed by Rear Admiral Mustapha, rather than the original defence he had prepared.

He was then issued a perplexing final warning letter—his first and only formal warning since the commencement of the programme.

Other participants also reportedly faced disproportionate sanctions. One was queried for commending initiatives of Governor Caleb Mutfwang during a vote of thanks at Government House Jos, another for arriving late after a family emergency, and a third for representing NIPSS positively in an external engagement.

On April 28, Mr Shuaib received another query—less than two months after the first. This time, the NIPSS cited a restricted internal PRNigeria editorial email dated April 25, 2025, titled “Understanding the ‘Blue’ in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective.” The unauthorised interception of this internal correspondence constituted a serious breach of digital privacy and can rightly be described as cyberbullying and cybercrime.

“The article, which I authored and later published in the media, provided insights into the government’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda from a Public Relations standpoint and did not refer to NIPSS whatsoever. Shockingly, the institute had accessed the email before it reached its intended editorial recipient—a clear act of unwarranted surveillance and professional misconduct.

“This act was not just a violation of privacy—it amounted to cyberbullying and professional misconduct,” he stated.

The mental strain from the ordeal reportedly led to a hypertension diagnosis at the NIPSS clinic. According to Shuaib, an official directive later barred other participants from interacting with him, leaving him completely isolated.

In addition to his suspension and exclusion from all official communication platforms, Shuaib was denied participation in the SEC 47 international study tours, despite having paid the full ₦18.2 million fee. All other participants were granted travel privileges and Estacodes for official tours across Africa and other continents.

Mr Shuaib told an internal investigative committee—convened after his suspension—that while NIPSS’s Terms of Undertaking emphasise confidentiality, they do not define what qualifies as public, restricted, or classified information, as the institute does not have a communication policy to guide social or media engagement of the participants.

“All my articles were based on publicly available national discourse and never revealed internal NIPSS content,” he insisted. Following two appearances before the committee, he said he received no further communication.

In his concluding appeal to President Tinubu, Mr Shuaib urged an independent investigation into the disciplinary process and cyber-privacy violations and a review of his suspension and exclusion.

He urged the establishment of a clear communication policy for participants at NIPSS.

He also criticised what he described as the excessive militarisation of the academic environment at NIPSS—an approach he says deviates from global best practices at institutions like Brookings (USA), Chatham House (UK), SWP (Germany), and RSIS (Singapore), where constructive dissent and academic freedom are valued.

“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 press time, NIPSS management has not publicly responded to the allegations.