Senate makes U-turn, now to screen 12 REC nominees from Presidency

*Passes Whistleblowers Protection Bill

The Senate on Wednesday made a U-turn on its earlier resolve to suspend action on consideration of nominees from the Presidency, as it received a report from its Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for confirmation of screened 12 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

The Senate’s resolution not to recognize or accept letters from the Presidency stemmed from a letter it sent to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, urging the upper chamber to confirm Lanre Gbajabiamila as the substantive Director-General of the National Lottery Commission (NLC).

The upper chamber, yesterday, also passed into law the Whistleblower Protection Bill which seeks to encourage and facilitate the disclosures of improper conduct by public officers and public bodies.

It was presented by the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator David Umaru, representing the Niger East in the 8th National Assembly.

A remark credited to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo that the Senate does not need to confirm the nomination of acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, made the Senate to take the stand earlier that it would not confirm any nominees from the Presidency.

Senate had asked the Acting President to withdraw the statement credited to him, and calling for his apology all the same for making the remark.

However, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Suleiman Nazif, (APC, Bauchi) laid the report on screening of 12 Resident Electoral Commissioners for INEC appointment.

The presentation of the report was sequel to introduction and reading of the twelve names by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan.

The nominees include Mrs. Asmanu Sani Maikudi, from Katsina State; Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun, from Ondo state; Mahmud Isah, from Kebbi state; Rufus Oloruntoyin Akeju, from Lagos state and Riskuwa Shehu from Sokoto state.

Others are Kassim Gana Geidam, from Yobe state; Jibrin Ibrahim Zarewa, from Kano state; Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji, from Oyo state; Samuel Egwu, from Kogi state; Mike Igini, from Delta state, Mustapha Zubairu, from Niger state and Ahmad Bello Mahmud, from Zamfara state.

From all indications, the nominees are expected to be confirmed on a date to be fixed by the leadership.

The whistleblower bill tagged; ‘An Act to Protect Persons Making Disclosures for the Public Interest and Others from Reprisals, to Provide for the Matters Disclosed to be Properly Investigated and Dealt with and for other Purposes Related Therewith,’ seeks to ensure that persons who make disclosures and persons who may suffer reprisals in relation to such disclosures, are protected under the law.

The Bill also specifies who is qualified to make disclosure of improper conduct; the procedure for making disclosures; and the protection due to ‘whistleblowers.’

Under the newly passed Bill, a person who makes a disclosure shall no not be subject to victimization by his or her employers or by fellow employees.

It also specifies that a person who makes a disclosure has the right to take legal action if he or she is victimized, dismissed, suspended, declared redundant, transferred against his or her will, harassed or intimidated in any manner.

The passage of this Bill brings to three the number of anti-corruption Bills passed by the Senate in 2017, starting from May when it passed the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, while in June 2017, it passed the Witness Protection Bill.

The Bill to establish Special Anti-Corruption Courts has been sent to the Constitution Amendment Committee while the Proceeds of Crime Bill has been sent to the Senate Joint Committee on Anti-Corruption and Judiciary

The Senate President; Dr. Bukola Saraki declared that the passage of the bill was a promise kept in line with the anti-corruption war in the country.

However, the Senate in the bill retained the award of 5% of money recovered from reported looters to any genuine whistle- blower.

Provisions on punitive measures against false whistle-blowers were also made as fine of N10million or 5 years imprisonment approved for such persons.