In a circular titled “Code of Conduct for Public Officers” issued from his Office and sent to all

Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, the Head of Service reiterated the observation made at the 37th meeting of the National Council on Establishments that “some public servants engage in private practice to the detriments of the services they were employed to render to the public.”

In the circular, the Head of Service also drew the attention of all public officers to Part I, Fifth Schedule, Section of 2 (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which provides that “without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph, a public officer shall not, except where he is NOT employed on full-time basis engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade, but nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming.”

According to the Head of Service, failure to comply with this directive by civil servants would not only be regarded as an unconstitutional act, but also an act of misconduct under the Public Service Rules.

SIGNED

Tope Ajakaiye Director (Communications)

For: Head of the Civil Service of the Federation

10th June, 2013.