The Plateau Government has introduced a dress code for the state's civil servants to guard against what it termed “improper and immodest” dressing at work places.
The government also threatened to sanction workers who failed to comply with the code.
Briefing newsmen in Jos after the state Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, the Head of Civil Service, Mr Moses Gwom, said a specific dress code had been prescribed for workers to ensure decency.
“Improper dressing or immodest dressing as official outfits are not allowed and this is captured in the Public Service Rules number 030313.
“It states clearly that to be in the office, the formal dressing will be either you are in complete traditional dress either “baban riga” with a cap to match or a “kaftan” with a cap to match, that is for the men.
“The women – wrapper. If you want to wear a skirt, it should be below the knee. If you want to wear corporate trousers to the office, it shouldn’t be the `pencil’ type; it should be loose enough, decent enough.
“Like the Chancellor of Germany; she is always in trousers; the ones the female bankers wear; they are decent, loose; they are not the type to show your physique and to distract the attention of the workers at work.”
Gwom warned that erring workers would be sanctioned henceforth and appealed to the workforce to comply in their own interest so as not to fall on the wrong side of the law.
“If a civil servant is immodestly dressed, we will call on the management of such MDAs to send them back home to dress properly.
“If the staff officers enforce this public service rule, we will expect decency at the workplace.”
The Civil Service boss also warned visitors to government offices against appearing immodest in their dressing to avoid being embarrassed.
“Visitors that are coming to visit us at work should themselves appear decent with their dressing.
“Ladies shouldn’t wear blouses that we call `spaghetti’ – that’s not a wear to the office, it’s a casual wear at your private time at home. But to come to the office and be very formal, it’s either you are in traditional dress or you wear complete suit with a tie.
?“If you are not wearing a tie, you should wear a jacket on top of the shirt. If you just want to wear a shirt, then it should be a shirt, a tie, a trouser – that is decent.
?“This is considered appropriate, corporate. But jeans is not allowed for both male and female.”
He, however, said that there were some exceptions to some categories of workers who might be on special assignment like going to project sites, which demanded some special wears.
“If you are an engineer in the ministry of works and you are going to inspect projects, we will understand that you can wear your jeans, you can wear your face cap because you are going to the site.
“But if you are coming to the office to sit and do your work in the office, then you should either wear the complete suit or a shirt and a tie to match or you are in a traditional dress.
“This is what is allowed for all male and female. We must endeavour to wear things that do not distract others and they lose concentration at work.”