Don’t announce unapproved policies – Cabinet directs Ministers
The Office of the Cabinet Secretary has cautioned ministers of state against the growing practice of publicly announcing major government policies and initiatives without prior cabinet discussion or approval.
In a statement issued to all ministries, the Cabinet Secretariat stressed that such actions contradict established governance protocols and the constitutional principle of collective responsibility.
“Cabinet wishes to remind all ministers that, in accordance with established governance protocols and the collective responsibility principle enshrined in the Constitution, no public policy, programme, or major initiative shall be considered a policy of government unless it has been duly submitted to, deliberated upon, and approved by Cabinet,” the statement read in part.
The directive further instructs that all proposed policies, programmes, or legislative initiatives intended for public announcement or implementation must first be routed through the chief directors of the respective ministries to the cabinet secretariat for inclusion on the cabinet agenda.
According to the statement, the measure seeks to promote policy coherence, uphold collective Cabinet responsibility, and ensure that all government communications reflect the unified and approved position of the administration.
Ministers have therefore been advised to desist from publicly announcing or implementing policies that have not received Cabinet approval, with a warning that any such action would not be recognised as official government policy.
Read the statement in full below:
ADHERENCE TO CABINET PROCEDURES IN THE
FORMULATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF PUBLIC POLICIES
The attention of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary has been drawn to the growing practice where some Ministers of State have publicly announced, or caused to be announced, major policy initiatives and programmes purportedly on behalf of the Government without prior discussion, review, or approval by Cabinet.
- Cabinet wishes to remind all Ministers that, in accordance with established governance protocols and the collective responsibility principle enshrined in the Constitution, no public policy, programme, or major initiative shall be considered a policy of Government unless it has been duly submitted to, deliberated upon, and approved by Cabinet.
- For the avoidance of doubt, Ministers are respectfully requested to ensure that all proposed policies, programmes, or legislative initiatives intended for public announcement or implementation are first submitted to the Cabinet Secretariat, through the Chief Director of their respective Ministries, for inclusion on the Cabinet agenda and subsequent consideration by Cabinet.
- This directive is intended to safeguard policy coherence, uphold collective Cabinet responsibility, and ensure that all Government communications and actions reflect the unified and approved position of the Administration.
- Ministers are therefore advised to refrain from announcing or implementing any policy that has not received Cabinet approval. Any such public statement or initiative undertaken outside this process shall not be deemed to represent official Government policy.
- Please be guided accordingly.
