Leakage of Sensitive Documents: FG Mandates Government Agencies to Digitize Operations
To tackle the persistent issue of sensitive material leakages from government offices, the federal government has instructed all Permanent Secretaries to expedite the transition to digitalized workflow systems and ensure the effective implementation of the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Solution.
Folashade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, emphasized the urgency of this directive in a circular issued on Monday, February 19th. The circular was addressed to all Permanent Secretaries, Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, Governors, Central Bank of Nigeria, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, and Chairman of the Police Service Commission.
Yemi-Esan expressed concern over the frequent leakage of sensitive official documents within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, deeming it unacceptable and embarrassing to the government. She highlighted that the migration to digital systems would minimize physical handling of official documents, thereby mitigating the risk of leakage and unauthorized circulation.
Furthermore, Yemi-Esan advised Permanent Secretaries to firmly caution all staff against leaking or circulating official information and documents. She warned that any officer found engaging in such misconduct would face severe disciplinary action in accordance with relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules and other applicable circulars.
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,” it said.
