FG To Offer 5% Reward To Whistleblowers In Anti-Graft Fight

By Concise News Correspondents

Any whistleblower whose information leads to recovery ‎of looted funds and other monies obtained through fraudulent means will get between 2.5 per cent and five per cent of the funds.

That is based on a policy announced by the Federal Government tagged ‘WhistleBlowing Programme’.

It is aimed at encouraging anyone with information about a violation. It will focus on misconduct or improper activity that impacts negatively on the Nigerian people and government to report it.

The government believes official reward for whistle-blowers will strengthen the fight against corruption. It said more Nigerians will now be encouraged to identify with government’s efforts in that regard.

Briefing journalists at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun confirmed the policy.

Adeosun, joined at the briefing by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, enumerated that to be eligible for the reward, the whistle-blower must have provided the government with information it does not already have and could not otherwise obtain from any other source available to the government.

She then disclosed that an online portal where information could be submitted had already been created. The portal would also be used to ascertain the status of the report.

The minister further said the information would be categorised. She said they could include cases bothering on mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets such as properties and vehicles, financial malpractice or fraud, and collecting or soliciting bribe.

Others are corruption, diversion of revenues, fraudulent and unapproved ‎payments, splitting of contracts, and procurement fraud including kickbacks and over invoicing, among others.

But she stated that the policy does not apply to personal matters concerning private contracts or agreements.

“You can submit documentary evidence on the portal. You can also provide specific and fact-based information such as what occurred, amount involved, who was involved and dates of the occurrence on the portal.

“Confidentiality will be maintained to the fullest extent within the limitations of the law. If you choose not to disclose your identity, there will be no record of who you are. If you choose to disclose your identity, it will be fully protected.
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”If you whistleblow in public-spirit and in good faith, you will be protected. If you feel that you have been treated badly because of your report, you can file a formal complaint. If you have suffered harassment, intimidation or victimisation for sharing your concerns, restitution will be made for any loss suffered,” she said.