The Cross River State Government has, in very strong terms, warned civil servants in her employ, parading fake doctorate degrees and those who include chieftaincy, traditional, community-based, or faith-based titles in official communication, to desist from parading those fake doctorate degrees as well as abstain from including chieftaincy, traditional, community-based, or faith-based titles in official correspondence.
Orok Bassey Okon, the Cross River State Head of Service, in Circular No. 3/2025, insisted to those concerned that the civil service is governed by rules and protocols designed to promote professionalism, uniformity, and discipline.
“Only officers who have academically earned accredited and verifiable doctoral degrees may use the title ‘Dr’ or ‘PhD’ in all official documents and identity records. Any officer found using unearned academic titles shall be subjected to disciplinary action,” he stated.
Okon further warned that honorary or traditional titles must not appear in memos, letters, email signatures, name tags, identity cards, or personnel records. Officers are required to use only names officially captured in the service database.
The increasing disregard for professional dress standards among officers, was also addressed. While many civil servants in the state have become comfortable to 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, this has been stopped forthwith. The HOS was also specific that all officers must appear in formal, decent, and professional attire from Monday to Friday and warned that any civil servant found violating the dress code would face disciplinary measures as provided in the Public Service Rules.
