August 28, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu is set to re-present the Whistleblower Bill to the National Assembly for an Act.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this on Wednesday, in Abuja.
Whistle-blower policy was introduced by the Federal Government in 2016 to encourage Nigerians with information about violation or corruption to report through a secured online portal designed to conceal the identity of the blower.
In 2020, the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), chaired by Prof. Itse Sagay, said the committee recovered N594.09 billion in three years through the implementation of the whistle-blowing policy on whistle-blowing for revenue-generating agencies in Nigeria.
However, the policy encountered numerous challenges which included the absence of legislation to protect informants and lack of enabling law for rewards.
Speaking on Wednesday, at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the “Implementation of Whistleblower Policy in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward”, Edun said the Whistleblower Bill will be re-presented to the National Assembly “any moment from now in line with the administration’s policy of zero tolerance for corruption”.
The Minister added that the current administration was committed to implementing its agenda to the letter, declaring no stone would be left unturned to ensure that a legal framework is put in place to drive the implementation of the policy.
“To this end, Mr. President will be re-presenting, in due course, the Whistleblower Bill to the National Assembly for necessary processing and legislative action and we expect that the public will support the quick passage, the prompt and expeditious passage of this all-important bill by the National Assembly.
“Today’s workshop is not just another event in our calendar, it’s a step in the right direction to equip all of us here, all of us participants with the knowledge and the tools that would help us to identify and report fraudulent practices to relevant authorities. The goal is to ensure a streamlined and safe channel for addressing concerns and malpractices in the conduct of government affairs.
“This workshop is an indication of our collective commitment to uphold the tenets of good governance, to keep the public abreast of government’s current policies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola’s administration,” he said.
Edun noted that the move to establish a robust system for reporting and addressing grievances was to ensure public institutions remain accountable to the populace.
“This will continually be pursued with strict confidence and compliance to the rule of law and all the other aspects of what makes up good governance, best practice, and best global procedures.
“The present administration cherishes the right of privacy and protection of every Nigerian and therefore the whistleblowing policy is not meant to witch-hunt anybody. It’s in the interest of the resources of Nigeria for development for the people,” he said.
The Minister lamented that the policy, in its current state, lacks a mechanism for the protection of informants, noting, “It’s our duty to uphold these provisions and support those who come forward in the interest of the public. Those who are public-spirited, brave, courageous, committed, and determined to do the right thing must, should, and will be protected.”
