To boost its battle against corruption, the Federal Government last week announced an incentive for whistleblowers. The initiative, tagged ‘Whistle Blowing Programme’, is aimed at encouraging anyone with information about a violation, misconduct or improper activity which impacts negatively on the Nigerian people and government, to report it.
As an incentive to informants, government has proposed a financial reward for whistleblowers who give information that leads to the recovery of looted funds and other monies obtained through fraudulent means.
Giving details of the whistle blowing programme at a press briefing held after the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the measure had become expedient. She explained that whistle blowing which leads to a voluntary return of stolen or concealed public funds or assets, may entitle the whistleblower to a minimum of 2.5 percent and a maximum of five percent of the total amount recovered.
The reward will, however, not come easy. The minister explained that for a whistleblower to qualify for the reward, he must have provided the government with information it did not already have, and could not otherwise obtain from other sources available to it. This appears a tough call.
In addition, Adeosun disclosed that the federal government had already created a safe and secure online portal where information could be submitted, as well as the facility to check the status of the report on the portal. Among the information that could be reported are cases bordering on mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets such as properties and vehicles, financial malpractice or fraud, and collecting or soliciting bribe. Other areas covered by the policy are corruption, diversion of revenue, fraudulent and unapproved payments, splitting of contracts and procurement fraud, including kickbacks and over-invoicing, among others.
But, the policy does not apply to personal matters relating to private contracts and agreements. Government, the minister added, has assured the people of absolute confidentiality of the portal. However, a whistleblower who provides misleading and false information will be sanctioned. All government employees, agencies, institutional stakeholders and members of the public will be at liberty to use the facility. They will be able to submit documentary evidence on the portal, in addition to providing specific, fact-based information, such as what occurred, the amount involved and dates of the occurrence.
Altogether, we consider these measures important in the government’s fight against economic and financial crimes as well as other financial infractions in government institutions. The policy is even long overdue. However, the necessary instruments that will make it work must be put in place. Even though the initiative is an administrative step, it will be still be helpful for the government to propose an enabling Whistleblower Bill before the National Assembly and ensure that it is passed, to strengthen its hands. Ideally, a Whistleblower Act will help to protect disclosures of misconduct. Such laws have served countries such as the United States well in checking misconduct within and outside government institutions. These are laws that shield whistleblowers from retaliatory action once they voluntarily disclose information regarding wrongdoings, and from being fired or mistreated for reporting such misconduct.
We request the Federal Government to do the needful, in collaboration with the National Assembly. Overall, government should do everything that ought to be done to ensure the success of the policy and prevent its abuse. Considering the level of corruption in the country, especially stolen funds which government’s anti-graft agencies are trying to recover, our country needs a Whistleblower Act. It will strengthen the fight against corruption and encourage Nigerians to appreciate government’s efforts in this direction.