NEW DRESS CODE FOR DELTA: WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR AFRICAN ATTIRES?
-By Zik Gbemre
The new dress code for Delta state civil servants as released by the State Delta Head of Civil Service and published by the New Media Office of the Governor states that, "All officers on SGLs 15 and above should appear on complete English suits except for uniformed officers as given.
"All officers on SGLs 07-12 should appear as in (1) above or in a pair of trousers, shirts and tie, except all administrative officers who shouldy always be on English suits.
"All officers of SGLs 01-06 should appear as in (A1) above except for uniformed staff eg drivers, plant operators, etc who should always be in their uniforms and in absence of uniforms should put trousers and shirts to work.
"Also, traditional attires for male officers shall be permissable only on Fridays and on special occasions and such includes smart senator suits, modern caftans or native shirts with matching trousers complemented by appropriate traditional cap."
The circular also prohibits resource control hats and papas hats. What is the relevance of this dressing code in a temperate region? If the British colonial masters forced it on our grandfathers and fathers must we be blindfolded in this 21st century to follow it?
In then colonial era one must dress like the white-man to the church if not you will be driven home. Also, if a man had two or three wives he was forced to divorce the other women before you will be allowed to worship in the church.
In Southern Nigeria, the people must dress like the whiteman while in the North, the people must dress like the Arabs. Till date our people still 'follow follow' like zombies as sang by Fela Kuti.
It is shameful that Delta state government is still coercing Civil Service workers to dress like the Whiteman. With the poor salaries, how will these workers afford English suits and ties to match?
Can Civi Service workers even bear the high cost of living to fend for families and pay children's school fees and pay transport fares to work? Only a Civil Service workers that extorts 'kpaje' at work place can afford this compulsory dressing code in Delta.
The people are suffering untold hardships. Even bank workers no longer dress like the whiteman as it was in the past. Most bank workers now dress casual to work, e.g First Bank. The era of dressing like Whiteman is over, over and over.
One can wear any decent dress to work provided it is not torn or exposes your inner self to seduce the opposite sex.
It is shameful that Delta state government has lost focus and still blindfolded by Western dressing code.
Zik Gbemre
September 15,2025
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