Connect with us

Politics

Ten things to know about FG’s whistle-blowing policy

Published

on

In 3yrs Buhari govt has done more projects in S'East, S'South than PDP in 16yrs —Lai

Since the launch of the whistle-blower policy by the federal government, anti-crime agencies, specifically, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made discoveries of huge sums of cash in local and foreign currencies.

The monies, over N20 billion so far, suspected to have been hidden by corrupt public officials were found in unimaginable places, and made possible by members of the public who offered information.

Read also:  Amaechi owns the $43m, attempts to cover up will fail –Fani-Kayode’s aide insists

Here are 10 highlights of the policy:

1. A whistleblower is expected to provide information on any of these themes – mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets (e.g. property and vehicles); financial malpractice or fraud; collecting/soliciting bribes; corruption; diversion of revenues; fraudulent and unapproved payments; splitting of contracts and procurement fraud (kickbacks and over-invoicing etc.).

2. The policy does not apply to personal matters concerning private contracts or agreements.

3. A whistleblower can submit information through an online portal on the ministry of finance website by email or by phone.

4. A whistleblower may choose to remain anonymous while providing information. He is also entitled to protection. And if he suffers harassment, intimidation or victimisation for sharing the information restitution will be made.

5. A whistleblower can also provide documentary evidence such as “what occurred, the amount involved, dates of the occurrence” on the portal.

6. Information provided by the whistleblower will be reviewed and analysed to determine whether or not to open an investigation on the matter. And investigations will be confidential, objective and speedy.

7. Criminal cases will be referred to the relevant agencies; Police, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) or the EFCC.

8. A whistleblower is also entitled to financial reward. If there is a voluntary return of stolen or concealed public funds or assets on the account of the information provided, he may be entitled to anywhere between 2.5 percent (minimum) and 5.0 percent (maximum) of the total amount recovered. Also, he must have provided the government with information it did not already have and could not otherwise obtain from any other publicly available source to the government.

9. If a whistle-blower gives false or misleading information, it will be referred to the enforcement agents for investigation and possible prosecution.

10. A whistleblower will receive an acknowledgement immediately he submits the information. If an investigation is opened, the nature and complexity of the matters under investigation will dictate the time frame.

 

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now

Click to comment

0 Comments

  1. JOHNSON PETER

    April 16, 2017 at 2:32 pm

    But what if the whistle blower gives a report but in a long run, it was not authenticated because these corrupt people knows how to cover up, will they punish the whistle blower for this?

    • yanju omotodun

      April 16, 2017 at 5:13 pm

      Ask goggle that question. I believe you can read with your eye and not nose.

  2. yanju omotodun

    April 16, 2017 at 5:14 pm

    This policy is welcoming and has helped recovered good amount of money but these money have not been accounted for.

    • seyi jelili

      April 16, 2017 at 6:19 pm

      Continue to use your head to calculate the whole thing and wait for the account of the whole soon because I am sure this government is transparent enough.

  3. Animashaun Ayodeji

    April 16, 2017 at 8:32 pm

    whistleblower may choose to remain anonymous while providing information, this is bad o. Whistleblower must remain anonymous no matter what the case may be, wether s/he wants his identity out or not

    • Agbor Chris

      April 16, 2017 at 8:33 pm

      By the time the politicians get hold of all the whistleblowers, they will all die!

      • Anita Kingsley

        April 16, 2017 at 8:36 pm

        You GoTV it wrong, the Federal government has made provisions for the whistleblowers, nothing can happen to them

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

thirteen − ten =