In a significant development, the Nigerian government has issued a stern warning to Nigerian popular TikTok influencer, sarkinmoto, following his recent video in which he insulted civil servants. The government views such behavior as a violation of public service rules and a threat to the integrity of the civil service.
🚨 Background
Sarkinmoto,known for his satirical and often controversial content posted a video on TikTok that mocked and insulted civil servants. The video quickly went viral, attracting wide spread attention and criticism. In response, the federal government has taken a firm stance against such conduct, emphasizing the need to uphold the dignity of public servants.
⚖️ Government’s Position
The federal government has reminded all citizens especially public servants of the provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR)
Specifically, PSR no. 030401 prohibits the unauthorized disclosure of official information, while PSR no. 030403 addresses issues related to the loyalty of civil servants. The government has emphasized that insulting civil servants undermines public trust and violates this rules.
Furthermore,the government has called on social media platforms, including TikTok to moderate content that promotes hate speech and cyber bullying. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged TikTok to implement stricter content moderation policies to prevent the spread of harmful content.
📱 Implications for Social Media Influencers
The incident services as a cautionary tale for social media influencers in Nigeria. The government has made it clear that while freedom of expression is protected, it does not extend to actions that defame or insult public servants. Influencers are encouraged to use their platforms responsibly and avoid content that could incite hatred or disrupt public order.
