The Federal Government has approved a whistle blowing programme that will reward anyone who voluntarily discloses information about a possible financial misconduct or violation with between 2.5 and 5percent of the recovered or concealed public funds.
The policy which was approved by the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday during its meeting at the Presidential Vill, Abuja will help to expose financial or financially related crimes reducing the rate of pilfering in government establishments giving room for accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
Council approved the new policy following a memo by the minister of finance Kemi Adeosun at its last session for year. The policy is expected to bridge the gap until the whistle blowers protection bill is passed by the National Assembly.
Briefing journalists after the FEC meeting, minister of finance alongside ministers of works, power and housing, Babatunde Fashola and the minister information Lai Mohammed, said the new policy, will also improve Nigeria’s Open Government Ranking and Ease of Doing Business Indicators as well as aid the recovery of public funds that can be deployed to finance Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.
Whistle blowers are entitled to a reward as well as protection by the relevant government agencies, depending on the kind of information they provide.
“It depends. If there is a voluntary return of stolen or concealed public funds or assets on the account of the information provided, the whistleblower may be entitled to anywhere between 2.5% (Minimum) and 5.0% (Maximum) of the total amount recovered “You must have provided the Government with information it does not already have and could not otherwise obtain from any other publicly available source to the Government” Adeosun explained.
The programme may also boost the President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption war as well as improve the level of confidence in public entities. Nigerians may also cash in on the opportunity to make extra money from reporting graft, even as the authorities say tips will be well verified before a case is opened.
Explaining how the programme will work, Adeosun said a secured portal has been created for the submission and follow-up of information. Once the information is submitted, the portal will generate a unique reference number
Information can be submitted on the mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets (e.g. properties and vehicles); Financial malpractice or fraud; Collecting / soliciting bribes; Corruption; Diversion of revenues; Fraudulent and unapproved payments; Splitting of contracts; Procurement fraud (kickbacks and over-invoicing etc.).
However, the programme does not apply to personal matters concerning private contracts or agreements.
More Nigerians will be encouraged to come forward with information without fear of victimisation as has been the case in the past as information can also be submitted anonymously on the portal.
Information including documentary evidence and details of the infractions can be submitted through the online portal by e-mail or by phone, by anybody with the required information on internal stakeholders e.g. Government employees; Inter-Government institutional stakeholders; and All members of the public.
The programme will also protect whistleblowers who provide information in public-spirit and in good faith. “If you feel that you have been treated badly because of your report, you can file a formal complaint.
If you have suffered harassment, intimidation or victimisation for sharing your concerns, restitution will be made for any loss suffered” she added.
A bill seeking to protect persons with useful information on corrupt practices and other high profile crimes in the public establishments from undue harassment and persecution have already scaled second reading at the upper chambers of the National Assembly.
According to Transparency International’s 2014 report, Nigeria ranks 136th out of 175 countries of corrupt countries.
Sponsor of the bill, Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South), at a sitting in the red chambers said corruption posed a threat to economic growth as “when faced with corruption, only few people have the courage to speak up. Reporting questionable practices or abuse of power without protection is simply too risky for many”.
