FG making arrangements to give legal backing to whistleblowing policy

FG making arrangements to give legal backing to whistleblowing policy

“No stone would be left unturned to ensure that a legal framework is put in place to drive the implementation of the policy.”

Plans are underway by the Federal Government to give legal backing to the whistleblowing policy that was first instituted on December 21, 2016.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, at a one-day workshop on the sensitisation of whistleblowing policy in Nigeria, issues, challenges, and way forward held in Abuja.

“It is a fact that a successful whistleblowing policy involves receiving verifiable reports, conducting thorough investigations to authenticate them, and taking appropriate action to enforce compliance with the law.

“We are committed to implementing the present government’s agenda for the latter, and therefore no stone would be left unturned to ensure that a legal framework is put in place to drive the implementation of the policy.

“To this end, Mr President will be representing, in due course, the whistleblowing bill to the National Assembly for necessary processing and legislative action. And we expect that the public will support the quick passage, the prompt and expeditious passage of this all-important bill by the National Assembly,” said Mr Edun.

The Finance Minister said that the whistleblower policy is part of the government’s strategy to ensure that public institutions operate with integrity and remain accountable to the people of Nigeria, who have been empowered by the policy to remain a watchdog over all that happens, particularly in the public space, the finances, and with the resources that belong to all Nigerians.

According to him, despite the good intentions and achievements of the policy, there is still public misconception, which has made regular stakeholder engagements like the workshop indispensable in order to further enlighten the public on the policy and keep them abreast of the latest measures.

To ensure the smooth operation of the whistleblower policy, Mr Edun noted that the government is committed to guaranteeing protection from possible reprisals by handling reports and information with the utmost confidentiality.

“The policy does provide mechanisms for protection, and it is our duty to uphold these provisions and support those who come forward in the interest of the public, those who are public-spirited, brave, courageous, committed, and determined to do the right thing, must, should, and will be protected,” Mr further stated.

He reiterated the unwavering commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institutionalising and giving pride of place to transparency, accountability, and ethical good governance.

In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Mr Okokon Ekanem Udoh, said the whistleblowing policy since its inception on December 21, 2016, has proved to be one of the veritable tools in uncovering corrupt practices within the public and private sectors.

“It has empowered citizens to report to the relevant authorities about identified misappropriation of public funds and other fraudulent activities, thereby contributing immensely towards the institutionalisation of transparency and accountability in governance,” Mr Udoh said.

However, like other policies of the government, he noted, the implementation of the policy has encountered some challenges at the initial stage, adding that there was widespread enthusiasm on the part of Nigerians about the introduction of the policy; therefore, the momentum and popularity that heralded its introduction need to be reinforced and sustained.

“We are here today to examine the challenges and collectively seek ways to overcome them. It is imperative that we continually refine our strategies to ensure effective implementation of the policy to achieve the desired results,” he further stated.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted that the sensitisation workshop is designed not only to deepen the understanding of whistleblowing policy in Nigeria but also to foster cooperation among the key stakeholders, which include the implementing team, the civil society organisations, members of the press, and others.