(By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye – ABUJA)
The Federal Executive Council has approved the Ministry of Finance Whistleblowing Programme that would reward individuals who give government genuine information on stolen or concealed funds.
Whistleblowers could be rewarded with as much as between 2.5 percent and 5 percent of the recovered funds, it was revealed.
The programme is designed to encourage anyone with information about a violation, misconduct or improper activity that impacts negatively on Nigerians and government to report such via a secure online portal, by e-mail or by phone.
The programme is designed to encourage anyone with information about a violation, misconduct or improper activity that impacts negatively on Nigerians and government to report such via a secure online portal, by e-mail or by phone.
The programme also has protections from false or malicious claims, warning that any false or misleading information would be referred to the enforcement agents for investigation and possible prosecution.
The Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting Presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“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 per cent (minimum) and 5.0 per cent (maximum) of the total amount recovered,” Adeosun said.
“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.”
She described the programme as a stop-gap policy pending when the National Assembly would pass into law a Whitleblower Bill.
“If you have already submitted your information, you can also check the status of your report on the portal,” the minister said.
The type of information expected to be submitted include: 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 and procurement fraud (kickbacks and over-invoicing etc.)
Adesoun said that whitleblowing does not apply to personal matters concerning private contracts or agreements, adding that the whitleblower can be an internal stakeholders like government employees, inter-government stakeholders like government agencies, institutional stakeholders as well as regular members of the public.
Adesoun added that whistleblowers could choose to remain anonymous but that documentary evidence must be submitted on the government portal.
“You can also provide specific and fact-based information such as what occurred, amount involved, who was involved and dates of occurrence on the portal.”
She said should the whistleblower choose to disclose his or her identity, it will be fully protected.
Adeosun added that if the whistleblower has suffered harassment, intimidation or victimisation “for sharing your concerns, restitution will be made for any loss suffered.”
Information provided will be reviewed and analyzed to determine whether or not to open an investigation on the matter.
“It will be referred to the relevant agencies: Police, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) or Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” Adeosun said.
“It will be referred to the relevant agencies: Police, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) or Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),” Adeosun said.
On false claims, Adeosun added that “A first level review will always be carried out to determine credibility and sufficiency of information received. If you report false or misleading information, it will be referred to the enforcement agents for investigation and possible prosecution.”
According to the minister of information, aside the immediate acknowledgment that the whistleblower will receive on submitting the information, the person would wait for 10 working days for the ministry to confirm violation or potential violation.
“If an investigation is opened, the nature and complexity of the matters under investigation will dictate the time frame. You can always independently monitor the status or progress report with code generated,” the minister said.
