Whistle-blowing policy in Nigeria

Whistle-blowing Policy in Nigeria is an anti-corruption programme that encourages people to voluntarily disclose information about fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct, government assets and any other form of corruption or theft to the Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Finance.[1][2] A whistle-blower who provides information about any financial mismanagement or tip about any stolen funds to the ministry's portal is rewarded or entitled to 2.5% - 5% percentage from the recovered funds by the Nigeria government. The policy was launched on December 21, 2016 by Nigeria's Federal Government and facilitated through the Federal Ministry of Finance.[3][4][5]

Funds recovered through the whistle-blowing policy

It was reported that within the first two months of the Whistle-blowing policy in Nigeria that Nigeria's Federal Government recovered over $178 million that were stolen from the government. By June 5, 2017, Federal Ministry of Finance received a total of 2,150 tips from the public, 128 tips came through the website of the ministry, 1,192 was through phone calls, 540 through SMS and 290 through email to the ministry. By July/August 2017, a total of 5000 tips was received.[6][7] In October 2017, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu said that N527,643,500; $53,222.747; GBP21,222,890 and Euro 547,730 was recovered since the policy was launched.[8]

Ikoyi Whistle-blower

In 2017, a whistler-blower helped the Nigeria government to recover $43.5million, GBP27,800 and N23.2million at No. 16 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. It was also reported that Federal Ministry of Finance paid the whistler-blower the sum of N421million.[9][10]

Whistle-blower Protection

To protect whistle-blowers, civil society organizations have been engaged in a number of advocacy to ensure that people who blow whistle are protected. MacArthur Foundation is currently funding African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) to launch a whistle-blower campaign known as Corruption Anonymous.[11][12]

Criticism

Health advocates have urged Nigeria government to use the recovered funds to fund immunization and other health issues in Nigeria.[13]

References
  1. Tukur, Sani (December 21, 2016). "Expose corruption and make money as Nigerian Govt adopts new whistle blowing policy". Premium Times. Premium Times. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  2. Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Finance. "FMF Whistle Blowing" (PDF). whistle.finance.gov.ng. Federal Ministry of Finance. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  3. Demming, Ashley (May 19, 2017). "Nigeria's Whistleblowing Policy: A Good Start, But Not Enough". Global Anticorruption Blog. Global Anticorruption Blog. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  4. Onuegbulam, M. Chigozie. "Whistle blowing policy and the fight against corruption in Nigeria: implications for criminal justice and the due process". Nnamdi Azikiwe University Journal of International Law and Jurisprudence. 8 (2): 174, 179. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. Kazeem, Yomi (February 13, 2017). "Nigeria's whistle-blower plan to pay citizens to report corruption is off to a great start". Quartz Africa. Quartz Africa. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  6. Onumah, Chido (October 13, 2017). "Tackling corruption in Nigeria through whistle blowing". The Cable. The Cable. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  7. Premium, Times (August 15, 2017). "Whistle-blower policy, one of Buhari's main achievements – Adeosun". Premium Times. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  8. Onyeji, Ebuka (October 12, 2017). "Over N30 billion recovered through tips from whistle blowers – EFCC". Premium Times. Premium Times. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  9. Kumolu, Charles (December 14, 2017). "Ikoyi Cash: Whistleblower gets N421m, jets out of Nigeria". Vanguard. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  10. Adegoke, Yemisi (April 14, 2017). "Nigeria's anti-corruption unit finds $43 million cash in Lagos apartment". CNN. CNN. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  11. African Centre for Media & Information Literacy, AFRICMIL (23 November 2017). "X-raying Nigeria's whistle blower policy". AFRICMIL. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  12. Premium Times (February 26, 2017). "Group launches 'Corruption Anonymous' to aid whistle blower policy". Premium Times. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  13. Umeha, Chioma (July 10, 2017). "Nigerian Youths Call For Sustainable Immunisation Financing Plan". Independent. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
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