Fashola bars officials from talking to press

 

The Lagos State Government has barred political office holders and civil servants from granting interviews to journalists or speaking on its behalf.

A circular by the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, said the directive from Governor Babatunde Fashola was meant to sanitise the flow of information from the government to the people.

It added that any political office holder who wanted to grant press interview must take permission from the Ministry of Information, which would moderate it.

During his first tenure, Fashola imposed 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.