FG to review whistleblowing policy, recovers N7.8bn, $378m, £27,800

The Federal Government has said it will review the investigation framework of the whistleblowing policy to improve the effectiveness of the policy and put in place, required institutions and tools to strengthen the anti-graft war.

The whistleblower policy provides various channels through which anyone with information about a violation of government’s financial regulations, mismanagement of public funds and assets, fraud, and financial malpractice can anonymously report it.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, stated this at the Evaluation Workshop on Whistleblower Policy and Assets Tracing Team, organized by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACA), on Friday in Abuja.

Adeosun, who was represented by the Chairman, Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), Dr Mohammed Dikwa, said that the workshop is aimed at initiating discussions to improve the implementation of the policy in accordance with global best practice.

According to the minister, the objective of this team is to centralize the tracking, management and maintenance of all recovered non-cash assets in the custody of the federal government to ensure accountability and transparency.

Adeosun said, “The whistleblower policy has been well received and since its introduction in December 2016, we have received 8,373 enquirer and 1,231 tips. We have also carried out 791 investigations and completed 534 of those investigations.”

She further disclosed that the federal government has also recovered directly, as a result of tips received from whistleblowers, the sum of N7.8 billion, $378 million and £27,800 respectively.

“While we view the policy as being successful, there is still work to be done, members of the whistleblower team went on study tour to the United Kingdom between the 12th and 22nd of March to exchange ideas and learn from best practice.

“The team held high-level meeting with various UK government agencies including the Serious Fraud Office, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Government Internal Audit Agency, National Audit Office, Her Majesty Revenue and Customs, Financial Control Authority, the Department of Business, etc.

“The team also participated in a seminar organized by Public Concern At Work, a non-governmental organisation that acts as an advocate for whistleblowing by working with employees, organisations and governments. They also seek legislative changes where required to encourage whistleblowers.”

To support the overall vision of proper management of recovered assets, she said, an Inter-Agency Assets Tracing Team was constituted with representatives from the Office of the Attorney General and all investigative agencies.

Adeosun said, the team has been tasked with tracing, verification and management of all recovered assets.

“This includes the disposal of assets , forfeiture to the federal government by the court. This would stem general loss of value including the depreciation of motor vehicles and loss of rental income from high value properties recovered.

“Following lessons learned from the Study Tour, we will begin to focus more on preventive measures, putting in place tight control measures, making it more difficult for a few people to take away assets that belong to an entire country. In addition to this, the investigation framework of the whistleblower policy will be reviewed,” she added.

She assured that government would continue to work with all stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of the policy and put in place, required institutions and tools to achieve our objective.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), said that a lot of money has been recovered adding that the whistleblowing policy is not only about money recovery but includes disclosure of information on procurement, assets recovery and other activities that take place in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

Sagay said that the public seemed to be fixated on 5 percent but 5 percent is the maximum, saying “It could be as little as one percent.”

Sagay said, “Not every whistleblower can get 5 percent because it is the highest and is meant for lower recoveries. Assets recovery is ongoing, recovered assets should be sold and the money paid into interest yielding account so that the supposed looter, when established in court, that he or she didn’t loot, could be refunded without any hassle.”