Govt receives 2,351 whistleblowers’ tips on corrupt officials

The Ministry of Finance has confirmed that government has within two months received about 2,351 tips from individuals bordering on embezzlement of public funds and other corrupt practices.

Dominating the tips so far received are cases revealing how officials and contractors were involved in looting of assets and contract inflation, among others in Nigeria in the past years.

In a statement signed by Mr Festus Akanbi, Special Adviser, Media to the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the tips came via text messages, calls, email and forms filled on the ministry’s website.

“We have received 95 feedbacks through our website, www.whistle.finance.gov.ng, 1,550 tips came through calls on 09098067946 and SMS, 412.

“Also, 194 people sent us emails on [email protected]”. He said that out of the 2,351 tips, the office was currently following up on 154, it deemed actionable.

“Some of the tip include: contract inflation and conversion of government assets to personal use, ghost workers, payment of unapproved funds and embezzlement of salaries of terminated personnel.

“Improper reduction of financial penalties, diversion of funds meant for distribution to a particular group of people, especially farmers and diversion of funds to personal commercial bank accounts to earn interest.

“Further more, we are following up on cases of non-Remittance of pension and NHIS deductions, failure to Implement projects for which funds have been provided, embezzelment of funds received from Donor agencies and violation of TSA regulations by keeping funds in Commercial banks.

”We are also looking into violations of FIRS (VAT) regulation by adjusting Value Added Tax payment, non-procurement of equipment required for Aviation Safety, money laundering and diversion of funds meant for approved projects,” he said.

Akanbi said that top on the Minister’s agenda, as the Chairman of the Whistleblower programme was to investigate illegal sale of government assets, diversion of revenue (IGR), concealed bailout funds, Illegal recruitment and violation of procurement Act.

It will be recalled that late last year, the Federal Government set up the Whistleblower programme to make it easy for the public to give information bordering on violation of financial regulations, mismanagement of public funds and assets and other financial malpractice.

Approving the new approach to fighting corruption, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had in December 2016 approved a whistleblowing policy that will expose fraud and other related crimes in both the public and the private sectors to be rewarded, promising whistleblowers at least five per cent of any amount recovered through information from them.

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