Corruption: Nigerian Govt. plans to enact Whistleblowing bill
The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has stated its readiness to send a whistleblowing bill to the National Assembly, in the effort to deepen the anti-corruption fight.
Wale Edun, finance minister, revealed this at a sensitisation workshop, aimed to deepen understanding and foster stakeholders’ participation for the policy.
Edun, says the government, using the whistleblowing policy, had recovered N83 billion, $609 million, and €5 million in stolen funds.
“The policy has already shown promise, with significant recoveries made since its inception in 2016,” Edun said.
The minister explained that the proposed bill intends to provide a robust legal framework for protecting whistleblowers.
In addition to Edun’s remarks, Okokon Ekanem Udo, the permanent secretary of the ministry of special duties, said the proposed bill would help to institutionalise transparency and accountability in governance, by empowering the citizens to report theft of public funds and fraudulent activities.
“At the initial stage, there was widespread enthusiasm on the part of Nigerians about the introduction of the policy. The momentum and popularity that heralded its introduction need to be reinforced and sustained,” he said.
