By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State Government has barred political appointees and heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from issuing press statements or granting media interviews on government policies without official clearance.
This directive was contained in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang.
It warned against what it described as the “flagrant and unauthorized” issuance of public statements by individuals not officially designated to speak for the state.
According to the statement titled “Streamlining of Communication Channels in Cross River State,” the government expressed concern over the growing trend of unauthorized communication by some appointees, which it said undermines the strategic coherence of official messaging.
“The Cross River State Government has observed with dismay the flagrant and unauthorized issuance of Press Releases, Press Statements and granting of Interviews on critical policies and decisions by some Government Political Appointees and Individuals,” the circular reads in part.
It further noted that such actions amount to arrogating the role of official spokespersons, a responsibility reserved for the Commissioner for Information and the Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor.
“This unauthorized communication culture is intolerable, misleading, and undermines the dignity and strategic coherence of Government Communications in general.”
The state government therefore directed that all press releases, statements, and official communications must henceforth be vetted and approved by either the Information Commissioner or the Chief Press Secretary before being released to the public.
“All political appointees under the Information Cluster are advised to take note of this circular and be guided accordingly,” the directive concluded.
