The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a whistleblowing
policy to check fraud in both public and private sectors.
Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun disclosed this to State House reporters
after the FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
She said the policy, devised by her ministry, is to encourage anyone with
information about a violation, misconduct or improper activity that
impacts negatively on Nigerians and government to report it.
She said the policy was aimed at increasing exposure of financial or
financial related crimes; supporting the fight against financial crimes
and corruption; improving level of public confidence in public entities;
enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of public
funds; improving Nigeria’s Open Government Ranking and Ease of Doing
Business Indicators; and recovering public funds that can be deployed to
finance Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.
According to her, information that can 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; procurement fraud (kickbacks and over-invoicing
etc.)
She said a whistle-blower is any person who voluntarily discloses
information in good faith about a possible misconduct or violation that
has occurred, is ongoing, or is about to occur.
The minister, who noted that there was a secure online portal where
information could be submitted, said: “If you have already submitted your
information, you can also check the status of your report on the portal.”
Noting that the policy does not apply to personal matters concerning
private contracts or agreements, she said whistleblowers could submit
their information through the online portal by e-mail or by phone.
On whether a whistleblower is entitled to a financial reward, she
responded: “It depends. 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%
(minimum) and 5.0% (maximum) of the total amount recovered.
“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.”
Asked if there is protection from false or malicious claims, she said:
“Yes. 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.”
Read more at
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/fec-okays-5-of-recovered-loot-for-whistleblowers/177108.html#3SPfUiWfsluwPmfH.99