The Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, has taken steps to ensure that sensitive official government documents are not leaked to the general public.
Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, stated in a memo posted on the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation’s website on February 19, 2024, that leaks of such documents have become embarrassing to the government and thus unacceptable.
The memo, HCSF/3065/VI/189, states, “It has been observed with dismay, the increase in the cases of leakage of sensitive official documents in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.” This is 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 Solution,
“This will reduce physical contact with official documents thereby checking the increasing incidence of leakage and circulation of same.
Furthermore, permanent secretaries should forcefully warn all staff against leaking and disseminating government information and papers.
“Any officer caught engaging in such unbecoming act will be severely dealt with in line with the relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant circulars.”
Recently, there has been an uptick in the public disclosure of sensitive government data.
Recently, a document from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, revealed plans to allocate N500 in allowances to members of the Federal Government’s tripartite committee on minimum wage.
A note concerning a large sum of money to be granted as Hajj subsidies, supposedly from the office of Minister of Finance Wale Edun, was also viewed in public.
The two memos sparked indignation among Civil Society Organisations, with organised labour requesting investigations into such allocations.