FG Warns Civil Servants against Leakage of Sensitive Documents

Chuks Okocha and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The federal government has warned civil servants over “embarrassing” leakages of important documents in the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, issued the warning in a circular dated February 19, 2014 and titled: Measures to Curtail the Leakage of Senao Official Information/ Documents in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The circular was HCSF/ 3065/VI/189, a copy of which was sighted yesterday by our correspondent and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Ministers, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice-President, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, all Permanent Secretaries,  Service Chiefs/Inspector General of Police.

Others served were governor, Clerk of National Assembly, Central Bank of Nigeria, Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Chairman, Federal inland Revenue Service and Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau among others.

In the signed document by Yemi-Esan, she warned of severe punishment for anyone caught in the act of leaking government memos.

She expressed dismay at the increase in the cases of leakage of sensitive official documents in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA).

She described the practice as “very embarrassing to the government and therefore unacceptable.

” As part of the efforts to curb this undesirable development, all Permanent Secretaries are to fast-track the migration to the digitalised workflow system and ensure effective deployment of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Solution.

“This will reduce physical contact with official documents thereby checking the increasing incidence of leakage and circulation of same.

“Furthermore, Permanent Secretaries are advised to strongly warn all staff against leaking and circulating official information and documents. Any officer caught engaging in such an unbecoming act will be severely dealt with in line with the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant circulars.

“This circular, therefore, reinforces the circular on ‘Unauthorized Circulation of Official Documents/Information on Social Media. Permanent Secretaries are to ensure strict compliance with the contents of this circular and draw the attention of the Heads of the agencies under their supervision to same,” she said.