C/River Govt Tightens Dress Code For Civil Servants

By Musa Kutama, Calabar

The Cross River State Government has warned against indecent dressing and the rising trend of civil servants parading unearned doctorate titles within the state’s workforce.

According to Circular No. 3/2025, signed by the Head of Service, Barr. Orok Bassey Okon, in Calabar the government has expressed its concern over the increasing professional dress standards among officers, noting that many now report to work in slippers and bathroom sandals, short skirts and gowns above knee length, transparent, revealing or tight-fitting clothes, as well as tight trousers.

Other prohibited clothing items highlighted include off-shoulder blouses, sleeveless tops, jeans, T-shirts, unbuttoned shirts, shorts, and three-quarter trousers — all of which the government says undermine the decorum and discipline expected of public servants.

The circular warned and directed that all officers must appear in formal, decent and professional attire from Monday to Friday. It also warned that any civil servant found violating the dress code would face disciplinary measures as provided in the Public Service Rules.

However, beyond dressing, the government also raised concerns over the unauthorised use of academic, chieftaincy and religious titles by officers. The Head of Service noted as an alarming number of civil servants claiming doctorate (PhD) titles they did not earn.

“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 warned.