Federal Government has warned its officials to stop unauthorized disclosure of official documents to the public immediately.
Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation gave this stern warning via a memo dated February 19, 2024, and published on the website of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
The memo, identified as HCSF/3065/VI/189, expressed concern over the escalating instances of leaked sensitive official documents within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, deeming such occurrences embarrassing and unacceptable for the government.
To address this issue, permanent secretaries are instructed to expedite the transition to a digitalized workflow system and ensure the effective implementation of the Enterprise Content Management Solution.
The implementation of these technological measures aims to minimize physical contact with official documents, consequently curbing the rising incidents of leaks and unauthorized circulation.
Additionally, permanent secretaries are advised to caution their staff against the unauthorized disclosure and dissemination of official information and documents.
The memo further emphasizes that severe disciplinary actions, in line with the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules and other applicable circulars, will be taken against any officer found engaging in such misconduct.
In recent times, there has been a notable surge in the leakage of sensitive government documents into the public domain.
Instances include a leaked memo from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, disclosing plans to allocate N500 as allowances to members of the tripartite committee on the minimum wage.
Another leaked memo pertaining to a substantial subsidy for Hajj, allegedly originating from the office of the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, also garnered public attention.
These revelations have sparked outrage among Civil Society Organisations and organized labor, prompting calls for investigations into the allocations mentioned in the leaked memos.
