The Federal Government of Nigeria has threatened to dismiss workers who are caught leaking official documents on social media. It said recent “unfortunate unauthorised disclosure of official documents on social media” was embarrassing and therefore unacceptable.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, issued the threat in a circular marked HCSF/109/S.1/120 with the title, ‘Unauthorised circulation of official documents/information on social media.’
Yemi-Esan issued the threat barely a week after a query she issued the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr Mohammed Bello Umar, for allegedly buying what she described as “uncompleted carcass” building for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the sum of N7bn became a public knowledge.
The HCSF had claimed that Umar superintended over the transaction for the purchase when he was still the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
She also accused the permanent secretary of giving out seven deep drilling rigs for borehole procured at N1.3bn to some unnamed individuals under “fraudulent arrangements.”
Umar’s six-page response to the query dated May 14, 2020, in which he denied all the allegations levelled against him and described them as mere concoction based on malice also found its way into the media.
The text of the April 28 nationwide broadcast of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on measures being taken to curtail the spread of COVID-19 was also leaked on social media platforms some hours ahead of the 8pm broadcast time.
Yemi-Esan, in the May 22 circular, however, described leaking of official documents as “an act of serious misconduct” which attracts dismissal as contained in the Public Service Rules. The circular read,
“The attention of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation has been drawn to the recent unfortunate unauthorised disclosure of official documents on the social media.
In some cases, official documents that have been minuted on are also leaked. This irresponsible and reckless action is an act of serious misconduct with a penalty of dismissal from service as provided for in Public Service Rules Nos. 030401 and 030402.
The ugly development is embarrassing to government and therefore not acceptable. Any public officer caught engaging in this act of serious misconduct will be severely dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Rules.”
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