Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration has banned indecent dressing among female public servants. All forms of dresses that expose breasts, contours and other sensitive female body parts have been outlawed.

The decision was taken as a result of worsening cases of indecent dressing among female public servants at the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, South-West Nigeria.

A circular issued by the Head of Service, Mrs. Josephine Williams dated 7 February, 2014 has been sent to all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs calling on all Directors of Finance and Administration, DFAs, to immediately move against indecent dressing in Alausa.

The circular, with the reference number CIR/HOS/14/Vol.1/022, said similar directive was issued through the HOS in 2005 in a circular number 113 mandating public servants to dress properly and decently to the office and official functions portray the good image of the state government.

The government warned that it would begin to take drastic and punitive measures against recalcitrant public servants who flout the directive.

“It has however been observed with grave concern that some officers have not been complying with this directive. The noticeable non-compliance of some officers to this directive should henceforth stop as the extant civil service rules and regulation on proper and indecent dressing still subsist and will be applied accordingly on flouters,” the HOS said.

Williams listed what is contained in the new dress code for female civil servants, saying that skirts above the knee should not be worn by public servants, saying that dresses allowed are skirts which are of knee level, moderate slit and not body clinging skirts.

According to the HOS, if female public servants must wear trousers, such trousers should neither be tight nor revealing and must be worn with a jacket.

Also, gowns to be worn by female public servants must be of knee level, moderate slit, not sleeveless and not body clinging.

Williams added that if native attires must be worn, they must be worn completely.

The government also reeled out dress code for male public servants. In the dress code for men, administrative officers must wear suit and tie as professionals and other officers could wear suit and tie or French suit.

Junior and clerical staff are allowed to wear shirts and trousers and French suit while complete native wear is allowed for all cadres of public servants.

“As a matter of necessity, all Directors of Finance and Administration are hereby enjoined to ensure that officers within their purview adhere strictly to moderate and decent dressing,” said the HOS.

Already, the Directors of Finance and Administration of various ministries have been having urgent meeting with their staff to intimate them about the new dress code.

•Text excerpted from a PM NEWS report. Photo shows Governor Fashola.

Update news