Whistle-blower Policy: Nigeria Recovers N594.09b

• Whistle-blower Policy: Nigeria Recovers N594.09b

The Federal Government has recovered a total of N594.09 billion since the whistle-blower policy was established in 2016 to checkmate looters.

Dr. Muhammed Dikwa, the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, disclosed this during a workshop in Abuja on Thursday.

Dikwa also noted that the policy helped government recovered another N192 million from retired diplomats who were still receiving salary two years after retirement.

He, therefore, said the whistle-blower policy has come to stay in Nigeria, adding that the country has now joined other nations of the world to accept the policy as norm.

The policy established to fight corruption and other financial crimes has drastically reduced corruption in both civil and criminal cases.

However, he said because of the challenges faced during implementation, the government is working on whistle blowing and witness protection bill 2019 to provide legal backing and administrative guide.

Mrs. Peculiar Ohabor, the head of the Whistleblowing Draft Committee, in presentation, said the draft bill has 18 bits and 107 sections and would be presented to the national assembly once its ready for passage.

She said nations like Canada, Senegal, United Kingdom, USA, and European Union have already accepted the policy, therefore, Nigeria needs to legalise and institutionalise it.