A new circular from the Lagos State Government has barred political office holders and civil servants from granting interviews to the press or speaking on its behalf.
The circular, which came from the office of the Head of Service, Mr Adesegun Ogunlewe, said that the directive from Governor Babatunde Fashola is intended at sanitizing the flow of information from the government to the people.
The circular added that any political office holder desiring to grant an interview must first seek permission from the Ministry of Information which would act as the moderator of the interview.
In his first tenure, Fashola had imposed a similar ban on information officers.
The circular read in part, “It has been observed that some public officials have formed the habit of granting informal interviews and in the process divulging official information on public policies which are still under consideration and are not yet approved for action by government.
“Consequently, the governor has therefore directed that no government functionary (public servants and public office holders) should grant press interviews or issue press releases without the concurrence of the Ministry of Information and Strategy.”
“Furthermore, under no circumstances should any public servant or public office holder comment or discuss government policies which are still under consideration.
“Government is aware that officers may be required to represent their political heads and read speeches at events, but such officers are to limit themselves to the contents of the written speeches which must have been cleared appropriately prior to the event by their political heads.”
The circular warned that violation of the order would attract sanction.
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