The Cross River State Government has warned against indecent dressing by civil servants in the State Civil Service and increasing incidence of parading doctorate (PhD) titles not academically earned.
Government, has observed that some officers attend work in attire such as slippers and bathroom sandals; short skirts and gowns above knee length, transparent, revealing, and tight-fitting clothing, including tight trousers.
Also noticed by government among civil servants are off-shoulder blouses, sleeveless wear, Jeans trousers, T-shirts, unbuttoned shirts, shorts or three-quarter trousers.
These do not reflect the decorum befitting public servants and are strictly prohibited within office according to the Head of Service Circular No. 3/2025, signed by Barr. Orok Bassey Okon, Head of Service of the State, and made available to Journalists in Calabar.
In the circular, it was stated that all officers must appear in formal, decent, and professional attire during working hours, Monday to Friday adding that any officer found wanting shall be subjected to disciplinary action in line with the Public Service Rules.
Also contained in the circular, were unauthorised use of unearned doctorate (PhD), chieftaincy and religious titles by civil and public servants in the state.
The Head of Service Circular read in parts “The attention of the Office of the Head of Service has been drawn to the increasing incidence of officers in the Cross River State Civil Service parading doctorate (PhD) titles not academically earned.”
The circular.also condemned the use of traditional/chieftaincy titles in official communications, records, and correspondence explaining that the Civil Service is governed by rules, standards, and protocols that ensure discipline, uniformity, and professionalism.
“Accordingly, officers are hereby reminded of the following:Only officers who have academically earned accredited and verifiable doctoral degrees may use the title “Dr”/ “PhD” in all official documents, communication, and identity records” the circular also stated.
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Again, ” Any officer found using unearned academic titles shall be subjected to disciplinary action in line with the Public Service Rules.All civil servants are hereby prohibited from using traditional, community-based, faith-based, or honorary titles in the course of official duties or in official documents.”
Such titles, it added, “must not appear in official letters; memos; email signatures; name tags/identity cards; personnel records. Officers are to use only theír officially recognised names as captured in the service records.”
The Head of Service in the circular enjoined all officers to uphold the dignity, discipline, and professional standards of the Cross River State Civil Service and directed Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Heads of Departments/Units to ensure strict compliance warning that Non-compliance shall attract sanctions in accordance with the Public Service Rules.
