FG Warns Public Servants: Leaking Official Documents Risks Jail Time

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning against unauthorized disclosures of official documents, underscoring that such actions are punishable under Nigerian law. This announcement came from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, during a workshop in Abuja on Tuesday.

The event, organized by the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR) alongside the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), centered on the theme, “Renewing Hope and Strengthening National Unity through Effective Communication and the Role of the Official Secrets Act in Maintaining Confidentiality and National Security.”

In his address, delivered by Dr. Nnamdi Mbaeri, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF, Akume stressed the importance of maintaining confidentiality within the government. He pointed out that the unauthorized leaking of sensitive official documents constitutes a felony, with no defense available under the Constitution or the Freedom of Information Act.

Akume cited Section 97 (2) of the Criminal Code Act of Nigeria, which prescribes up to one-year imprisonment for any public service employee who, without proper authority, copies or discloses any document owned by their employer.

The SGF also recounted measures previously taken to prevent the leakage of sensitive information within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). He mentioned that the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation had issued service-wide circulars in August 2021 to tighten the security of official documents and ensure compliance with established protocols. This was reinforced by another circular in February 2024 addressing the unauthorized circulation of official documents on social media.

Akume stated, “This was done to re-emphasize other extant regulations prohibiting unauthorized disclosure or leakage of official documents. There is a need to regulate the activities of civil society organizations that use the Freedom of Information Act.”