The Federal Government has threatened to dismiss civil servants who leak official documents on social media.
The federal government again raised the alarm over what it described as incessant unauthorized disclosure of official documents on social media and other platforms and therefore threatened to henceforth dismiss officials caught doing so.
Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, gave the warning in a circular released on Tuesday.
This is the second time the Head of Civil Service of the Federation will be threatening to dismiss workers, having issued a similar circular in May 2020.
The recent circular, titled ‘Unauthorized circulation of official documents/information on social media’ was marked HCSF/3065/Vol.1 /94.
The circular read, “The attention of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has been drawn to the incessant unauthorized disclosure of official documents/information on social media platforms.
“The unwholesome practice involves posting/reposting of secret, confidential and classified government correspondences, policy drafts, minutes, notes, memos, etc., on social media.
“This reckless action is tantamount to a breach of the Oath of Secrecy public servants swore to, and a serious misconduct which may lead to dismissal from the service, as provided in the Public Service Rules 030401 and 030402.
“Henceforth, any officer caught posting/reporting government documents on social media and other platforms without authorization would be severely disciplined in accordance with the provisions of the PSR.
“This circular, therefore, reinforces the earlier circular on the subject, Ref. No/ HCSF/109/S.l/120 dated May 22, 2020 and other extant regulations prohibiting unauthorized publishing of official documents.
“Permanent Secretaries and Heads/Chief Executive Officers of extra-ministerial departments are to bring the content of this circular to all staff for compliance.”
Heads of government agencies who copies of the circular were made available to include; the Chief of Staff to the President; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice-President; ministers; Secretary to the Government of the Federation; permanent secretaries; service chiefs/lnspector-GeneräI of Police; and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria.
Others are the chairmen of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal, Federal Character Commission, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
They also include the Clerk of the National Assembly; Secretary, National Judicial Council; Accountant-General of the Federation: Auditor-General for the Federation; Surveyor-General of the Federation; Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria as well as Directors-General and Chief Executives of parastatals/agencies.
