Refrain from announcing policies without approval – Cabinet cautions ministers

The Office of the Cabinet Secretary has cautioned all Ministers of State under the current administration against announcing or implementing any policy that has not received Cabinet approval.

The directive follows growing concern over instances 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 endorsement by Cabinet.

In an official communiqué addressed to all Ministers, the Cabinet Secretary reminded them 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 regarded as official Government policy unless it has been duly submitted to, deliberated upon, and approved by Cabinet.

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The statement read:

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.

The Office explained that the directive aims 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.

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Ministers have therefore been advised to refrain from announcing or implementing any policy that has not received Cabinet approval. The directive further cautioned that any such public statement or initiative undertaken outside this process shall not be deemed to represent official Government policy.