Nigeria’s economy remains under strain despite a slight dip in inflation. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that headline inflation slowed to 20.12 per cent in August 2025 from 21.88 per cent in July. Yet food inflation stood at 21.87 percent, with month-on-month food prices rising 1.65 per cent. Transport and housing costs have also climbed, leaving households with little relief.
Amid these challenges, the Delta State Government has rolled out a new dress code for civil and public servants, sparking heated debates about governance priorities in a cost-of-living crisis.
The circular, issued on 11 September 2025 by the Office of the Head of Service, bans “indecent appearances” in ministries and parastatals. For men, bushy beards and certain traditional caps are outlawed. Senior officers on Grade Level 13 and above must wear full corporate suits Monday to Thursday, with senator-style attire allowed only on Fridays. Officers on Levels 7 to 12 must pair shirts and trousers with ties, while entry-level staff (Levels 1–6) may wear uniforms where applicable.
For women, the code is equally strict. Senior staff must wear trouser or skirt suits; gowns must fall below the knee and have sleeves. Spaghetti straps, cleavage-revealing outfits, artificial braided or dyed hair, long eyelashes, and fake nails are expressly banned.
Heads of department are tasked with enforcing compliance. Offenders risk being sent home to change—an action that could translate into lost wages in a system where absenteeism already costs billions annually, according to a 2023 World Bank report on Nigerian labour productivity.
Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, defended the move at a press briefing in Asaba on 16 September. “There is no going back on the dress code,” he said. “Workers must henceforth dress decently in accordance with the civil service rules. This is about discipline, image, and public trust.”
The state referenced a 2024 perception survey in which over 60 per cent of citizens said the sloppy appearance of civil servants affected their confidence in service delivery. Officials also cited a federal audit in 2022 which linked standardised dressing to a 15 per cent rise in perceived professionalism among public service users.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Delta State Council has flatly rejected the directive. Chairman Comrade Goodluck Ofobroku told journalists on 17 September: “What we are earning cannot afford those clothes. Civil servants have been dressing decently in line with the rules. This new directive is unnecessary and oppressive.”
He criticised the specifics of the code—mandatory suits for men and restricted attire for women as out of step with civil service rules, which only require staff to avoid inappropriate dressing. He also condemned the lack of consultation. “If you want to make a new policy, why not discuss it with workers’ representatives?” he asked.
The timing adds weight to the union’s criticism. With the implementation of the new ₦70,000 minimum wage earlier this year, Delta’s civil service wage bill jumped to ₦3.87 trillion in 2025, up from ₦2.036 trillion in 2024. Salaries now range from about ₦930,000 annually for Level-1 officers (≈ ₦77,500 monthly) to ₦1.8 million for senior grades, but these amounts are being rapidly eroded by inflation.
Academic research reinforces the union’s stance on consultation and welfare. A 2023 survey of 643 Delta civil servants found a strong positive link between employee participation in decision-making and productivity. A study on Enugu’s public institutions similarly revealed that when workers were consulted, morale and performance improved significantly.
Okolie and Egbon (2024), in their study of the Delta State Civil Service Commission, stressed that both intrinsic rewards such as recognition and extrinsic rewards like salaries and allowances are vital for sustaining employee commitment. They also highlighted how poor workplace facilities from outdated equipment to inadequate office infrastructure drag efficiency and job satisfaction.
These findings suggest that stricter dress policies may do little to enhance productivity if underlying welfare and workplace conditions remain unaddressed.
On X (formerly Twitter), #DeltaDressCode trended with more than 1,200 posts in the week ending 20 September. Critics called the move “tone-deaf” at a time when “slave wages” barely cover essentials. A viral post read: “Suits Without Food: Delta’s Civil Servants Forced Into Dress Codes on ₦77,000 Minimum Wage.”
At street level, opinions were mixed. Musa Buhari, a civil servant in Abuja with 12 years’ experience, said: “Your dressing code matters. It shows how serious you take your work. But government should provide dressing allowances to help civil servants meet the standard.”
Sarah, a student at Delta State University, supported the initiative: “I really love this idea because it will allow the workers dress properly.” Zainab, a trader in Asaba Market, offered a middle ground: “People should be allowed to wear whatever they want as far as it is decent and professional.”
Delta’s policy is not an isolated case. At Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), a proposed dress code banning dreadlocks, sagging trousers, tattoos, and transparent clothing sparked backlash, with the Students’ Union describing it as an infringement on fundamental rights. Legal scholars have also warned that mandatory dress codes often lack legal backing and may infringe Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom from discrimination.
The controversy in Delta highlights a deeper national dilemma: how to balance professionalism with economic reality. While government insists on decency and discipline, workers argue that enforcing corporate attire without addressing living costs is punitive.
In a country where inflation eats away at wages and a suit can cost more than a month’s food budget, the debate goes beyond dress. It is a question of whether governance should prioritise appearances or confront the economic struggles that make compliance itself a hardship.
