Federal Government Warns Civil Servants Against Leaking Official Documents

By Iyojo Ameh

The Federal Government through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, has issued a stern warning to civil servants regarding the increasing trend of leaking sensitive official documents.

Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service, underscored the urgency for permanent secretaries to accelerate the adoption of digital workflow systems to address the rising concerns over document leaks.

In a memo marked HCSF/3065/VI/189, the government expressed dismay over the surge in leaked official documents within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, deeming it unacceptable and potentially detrimental to the government’s operations.

“To curb this undesirable trend,” the memo stated, “all permanent secretaries are instructed to expedite the migration to digitalized workflow systems and ensure the effective deployment of the Enterprise Content Management Solution.

The move towards digitalization aims to minimize physical contact with official documents, thereby reducing the risk of leaks and unauthorized circulation.

Additionally, permanent secretaries were urged to caution all staff against engaging in the unauthorized disclosure of official information and documents. The memo emphasized that any civil servant found leaking documents would face severe disciplinary actions in accordance with relevant regulations, including the Public Service Rules and other existing circulars.

Recall that Civil Society Organizations and organized labor have called for thorough investigations into these leaks, highlighting the importance of maintaining confidentiality and integrity within the civil service.