Hello Sir,
I have postponed sending you messages but this one, I must – I have attached the Lagos State Public Service rules which proscribes public support for any candidate by civil servants.
040523: No officer shall, without express permission of the Government,
whether on duty or leave of absence:
(a) hold any office, paid or unpaid, permanent or temporary, in any political
organisation;
(b) offer himself or nominate anyone else as a candidate for any elective
public office including membership of a Local Government Council or
State or National Assembly;
(c) indicate publicly his support of or opposition to any party, candidate or
policy;
(d) engage in canvassing in support of political candidates.
(e) Nothing in this Rule shall be deemed to prevent an officer from voting at
an election.
Just like we have in the market places where coercion and intimidation is employed for support, it appears the workers voluntarily or involuntarily have to show ‘support’ as I am seeing on social media these days.
I know you had mentioned in your paper reviews the need to bring back morals and values but even my friend who should know better and works with the service seems not to be aware of this rule. Soldier go, soldier come, barracks remain. Their duty is to the state and not any candidate and it is so sad to see this going on – this wasn’t done during Ambode’s time neither did BRF need such awareness and this is why such rules exist. The limited thinking about this campaign is that the people who spread hate all of a sudden now see that it can also affect them. If we make the civil service become openly partisan, it is going to deny the people of excellence in a city that talks about it. Discrimination in providing service becomes open when public servants openly show who they support and is a very dangerous signal.
I must also commend you despite the rot you see in society and how it disappoints you. I want you to know that those who have morals and principles listen to you. I need not agree with your positions all the time but someone with principles tends to be consistent with their positions irrespective of the situation. Therefore, I urge you not to discontinue your work when you seem perplexed and tired about things because your voice is a voice of reason when we are in despair. Quite a number of us look up to you and your wisdom.
Best regards,
Mustafa
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