By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The whistle blowing policy of the Federal Government, launched in December 2016 during the late President Muhammadu Buhari era with the aim of exposing corruption, has helped the country to recover over 800 billion Naira of looted funds since inception, Dr Doris Uzoka Anite, Minister of State for Finance, has disclosed.
Dr. Uzoka made this known in Sokoto in her remarks during a one-day nationwide sensitization programme on “Whistle Blowing Policy Implementation in Nigeria.”
The event, held at the Sokoto Pinnacle Guest Inn Resort brought together participants from different fields to sensitize and encourage them to report fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct, theft as well as any other form of corruption.
Addressing the gathering virtually, Dr Uzoka reemphasized the essence of the sensitization, saying it will not only help the participants to identify the gaps but also to draw a realistic and achievable roadmap for the future.
While admitting that they will not be deterred by the numerous challenges faced by the policy’s implementation, Dr Uzoka appealed to all and sundry to collaborate with relevant authorities to help expose corruption at all levels, just as she urged the Sokoto State government to domesticate and institutionalize the whistle blowing policy at the state level.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented by the the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Musa, clarified that whistleblowers are not just informants but guardians of integrity that must be strengthened as they help in exposing wrong doings thereby protecting public resources.
Speaking, Sokoto State governor, Ahmad Aliyu, represented by the State Commissioner of Finance, Muhammad Jabbi Shagari, stressed that his administration has never condoned embezzlement and will continue to compliment the federal government’s effort in strengthening the whistle blower policy in the State.
The governor, who said his stand of “Money Or Work” has continued to put both public office holders and contractors in check, reassured that his government is committed to delivery of good governance for all in the state.
Delivering a paper on “The Benefits Of Whistleblowing Policy In The Fight Against Corruption In Nigeria”, Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, represented by Kamilu Ibrahim Gebi, the Sokoto EFCC Zonal Directorate’s Head of Public Affairs submitted that the enthusiasm towards whistleblowing has declined lately in Nigeria.
“It is needful to stress that, though the policy drew massive public buy-in at the early stage by the EFCC, its attractiveness quickly diminished, thus making reviews, modification and realignment of the policy imperative, especially for the sake of the boost it gives to the anti corruption fight”.
Continuing, the EFCC boss made a passionate appeal to the National Assembly to consider urgent passage of a law that protects anybody who risks his or her life making disclosure about issues of corruption.
