According to Vanguard, the Federal Government has issued a stern warning regarding the unauthorized disclosure or leakage of official documents, emphasizing that such actions can have severe negative consequences for the country and are considered a punishable offense. This was communicated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, during a workshop organized by the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Represented by Dr. Nnamdi Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF, Akume revealed the gravity of leaking sensitive official information. “Unauthorized leakage of sensitive official documents constitutes felony and there is no defense for such, either in the Constitution or the Freedom of Information Act,” he stated.
Akume referenced Section 97 (2) of the Criminal Code Act of Nigeria, which stipulates: “Any person who, being employed in the public service, without proper authority abstracts, or makes a copy of, any document the property of his employer is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year.”
This warning comes in light of past measures taken by the government to prevent such leaks. In August 2021, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation issued service-wide circulars to manage the dissemination of sensitive information within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This effort was reinforced by a subsequent circular in February 2024, targeting the unauthorized sharing of official documents on social media.
Akume highlighted the importance of these regulations in safeguarding national security and maintaining confidentiality. “This was done to re-emphasize other extant regulations prohibiting unauthorized disclosure or leakage of official documents,” he noted. He also pointed out the misuse of the Freedom of Information Act by some civil society organizations to “harass, intimidate and siphon resources from public officers through the dissemination of fake and unfounded information.”
The workshop, themed “Renewing Hope and Strengthening of National Unity Through Effective Communication and the Role of the Official Secret Acts in Maintaining Confidentiality and National Security,” aimed to reinforce the significance of proper information management in public service. Akume praised the BPSR for its role in organizing the workshop, which reflects the government’s commitment to the accurate and truthful dissemination of information.
Dr. Dasuki Arabi, Director-General of BPSR, addressed the participants, urging them to familiarize themselves with the Official Secrets Act and to effectively communicate government policies and programs to the public. “Your role as communication managers in MDAs is crucial, especially in our increasingly complex information ecosystem,” Arabi said. He emphasized that in a fragmented communications environment, the government must lead to prevent misinformation and ensure that citizens are well-informed about government activities and their benefits.
Arabi encouraged communication managers to leverage both traditional and social media platforms to keep the public informed about government initiatives, programs, and services. “Accurate and prompt information delivery is essential and cannot be compromised as its impact on service delivery and governance is profound,” he added.