FG recovers over N83bn, $609 million through whistleblowing policy
By Kunle Sanni
The Federal Government has announced that a total of N83 billion and $609 million have been recovered between 2017 and 2023 through its robust whistleblowing policy and enhanced legal framework.
Since the beginning of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the government has made significant strides in bolstering the effectiveness of the whistleblowing policy.
A draft bill has been developed to provide legal backing and protection for whistleblowers, ensuring their safety and encouraging more citizens to come forward with information on corruption and misconduct.
Speaking at a one-day sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the whistleblowing policy in Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, emphasized the administration’s commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance.
Edun stated that the new measures aim to address the challenges that have hindered the full implementation of the whistleblowing policy in the past, creating an environment where individuals feel safe to report malpractices within government operations.
He noted that the policy has already shown promise, with significant recoveries made since its inception in 2016.
Edun mentioned that the draft bill being prepared, which is expected to be presented to the National Assembly, seeks to provide a robust legal framework for the protection of whistleblowers and ensure that reports are handled with confidentiality and prompt action.
He said that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is committed to ensuring that the policy is pursued with strict compliance with the rule of law to achieve transparency and accountability in governance.
The whistleblowing policy, according to him, has recovered funds totaling N83,019,178,375.86; $609,083,391.91; and 5,494,743.71 Euros between 2017 and 2023.
“However, the government acknowledges that more needs to be done to encourage Nigerians to own the fight against corruption and report financial misappropriation,” Edun said.
