THE DISEMMINATION OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS TO THE MEDIA SPACE: A CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT TO SANCTION ERRING OFFICERS
By: Ronaldson Diete-Spiff, Esq
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan on August 2, 2021 had issued a circular, HCSF/3065/VOL.1/94 titled “Unauthorized circulation of official documents/information on social media”. This came because of the continuous unapproved dissemination of confidential/official documents over the media space. The Circular was made available to the three arms of Government, the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. Inclusive to this list were the Chief of Staff to the president, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries, Service Chiefs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission amongst others.
In the above-mentioned circular, she cited and relied on the Public Service Rules 030401 and 030402 wherein it states categorically that there would be outright dismissal from service anyone found wanting in breach as it tends to leave porous the offices where such information emanated from thereby defying the oath of secrecy taken by the Public Servant. This call is in reply to an earlier circular made on the 22nd May, 2020 titled Ref No/HCSF/109/S.1/120 on the same subject which placed an embargo on unapproved dissemination of official documents. The Head of Service further stated that anyone found wanting would be dealt with by an outright dismissal as prescribed in the Public Service Rules.
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