‘It’s very embarrassing’ — FG warns MDAs against leaking sensitive documents

The federal government has warned civil servants in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) against leaking sensitive documents to the public.

Some sensitive government documents have found their way to the social media space in recent times.

One of those was a leaked memo revealing that George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), wrote to President Bola Tinubu, requesting the sum of N1 billion for the activities of a minimum wage committee.

Another leaked document revealed how Betta Edu, suspended minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, received N3 billion of COVID-19 funds for the verification of the national social register.

In a memo issued on February 19, Folasade Yemi-Esan, head of civil service of the federation, said the government has “observed with dismay, the increase in the cases of leakage of sensitive official documents in MDAs”.

She said the trend has become “very embarrassing” to the government and is now “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,” the memo reads.

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

Yemi-Esan also advised permanent secretaries to strongly warn all staff against leaking and circulating official information and documents.

“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,” the memo adds.

“This circular therefore reinforces the circular on “Unauthorized Circulation of Official Documents/Information On Social Media” Ref. No. HCSF/3065/Vol. 1/94, dated 2nd August, 2021; and other regulations prohibiting unauthorized disclosure/leakage of official documents.

“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.”