Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open
letter to the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu urging him to use
his “good offices and leadership position to ensure the immediate,
unconditional and full reinstatement of all the eight members of staff of
the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos (YABATECH) who were sacked as a
result of their whistle-blowing activities.”
The organization wants Malam Adamu to “prevail on the Polytechnic Council
to reinstate the whistle-blowers back to their respective assignments in
the Polytechnic with all their entitlements paid and their promotions
effected as their victimisation is against the spirit of Nigeria’s
international human rights and anticorruption obligations and commitments,
including the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state
party.”
The names of the dismissed whistle-blowers are: Mr. Olugbenga Ibirogba;
Mr. Charles Akharayi; Mr. Ayinde Bamide; Mr. Olusola Dada; Mrs. Gbemisola
Dada; Mrs. Temilola Akinwunmi; Mrs. Mopelola Ibitomi; and Mr. Adedeji
Basiru.
The organization in a letter sent last Friday and signed by SERAP
executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni also called for the “immediate
release and full implementation of the report of the 2015 Investigative
Panel headed by Professor Idowu Awopetu that probed several petitions and
allegations of corruption in YABATECH. The panel has since submitted its
report, findings and recommendations to the Federal Government.”
The letter reads in part: “SERAP has been fully briefed by the dismissed
staff of YABATECH who were sacked whistle-blowers because of their public
interest disclosures on alleged corruption and unlawful enrichment of the
Rector of the Institution.”
“Allegations of corruption, unlawful enrichment and the misuse of power or
any position of authority by Polytechnic personnel for personal gain
threaten and harm the public interest. SERAP is seriously concerned about
the alleged systemic and widespread nature of the crimes in an educational
institution which is supposed to be bedrock of learning and good culture.”
“We are seriously concerned that the dismissed staff members have not been
appropriately treated or protected by the Polytechnic authorities or
Council to remedy the exposed threats or harm to them. No whistle-blower
should ever be penalised simply for making a public interest disclosure.
SERAP strongly believes that every individual should feel safe to freely
raise public interest concerns, just as the above-mentioned staff members
have done in disclosing information on alleged corruption, fraud and
unlawful enrichment in the Polytechnic.”
“Unless the authorities or Polytechnic council grant these staff members
the appropriate protection deserving of whistle-blowers, encourage them to
disclose corruption in the educational system and promptly act on those
allegations, a significant opportunity to protect the institution and
public interest would be missed thereby doing a disservice to their
calling and appointment as Polytechnic council members.”
“SERAP believes that retaliation or victimisation of whistle-blowers
should not under any circumstances or anywhere be tolerated, especially
under the watch of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, which
has been at the forefront of the anti-corruption crusade.”
“Encouraging whistle-blowers to speak up improves public services and
strengthens public accountability. By terminating the appointment of these
staff members, SERAP believes that the authorities of YABATECH has acted
improperly or attempted to cover up the alleged corruption and fraud
rather than promptly addressing it.”
“SERAP also believes that the information being disclosed by these
whistleblowers can contribute to strengthening transparency and
accountability in the Institution in particular and the country as a
whole. The termination of the appointment of these staff members amounts
to retaliation. Their status as a whistle-blower is not diminished even if
the perceived threat to the public interest has not materialised, since
they would seem to have reasonable grounds to believe in the accuracy of
the disclosures on alleged corruption and fraud in the Institution.”
“SERAP argues that whistleblowing is very important in deterring and
preventing corruption, and in strengthening democratic accountability and
transparency in the country in general. Whistleblowing is indeed a
fundamental aspect of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience and
is important in tackling gross mismanagement of our commonwealth.
Whistleblowing can act as an early warning to prevent damage as well as
detect wrongdoing that may otherwise remain hidden.”
“Further, whistleblowing can help ensure the effective compliance with
Nigeria’s international anticorruption obligations and commitments by
allowing those legally responsible for the alleged misconduct the
opportunity to address the problem and to account for themselves, and by
more readily identifying those who may be liable for any damage caused.”
25,000 women to benefit from Sokoto’s N250m loan
Sokoto Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said the state government will
provide soft loans worth N250 million to 25, 000 women across the state.
Tambuwal spoke in Yabo LGA when he presented cheques to 120 women as part
of constituency empowerment programme of the Majority Leader of the state
House of Assembly, Hon Bello Garba Yabo.
He said already, a comprehensive list of the beneficiaries, with the mode
of business they are engaged in, has been compiled by the Sokoto State
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMDA).
“We intend to reach as many people as possible in all the nooks and
crannies of the state. But for a start, we have identified 25,000 women
who will get a minimum of N10,000 and the disbursement will commence at
the shortest possible time.
“Because it is loan, we will task all you to repay it at a time to be
agreed by all parties,” he added.
Tambuwal said similar gesture will be extended to farmers, youth groups
and other members of the public.
“We hope to enhance the capital base of our beneficiaries and for the
women, we want them to become more self-reliant, while at the same time
providing them with opportunity to contribute their quotas to the economic
growth of the state,” he stated.
In an interview with journalists after the event, the Governor said he
believes creating job opportunities, especially through construction, and
injection of more money into the economy remains a sure way out of the
current recession in the country.
”Ask any Economist about the way out of recession, and I am sure they will
inform you that massive construction efforts, backed by release of funds,
will create jobs whose multiplier effects will jumpstart the economic
barometer,” he added.