For recovery of N11.6bn, FG pays N375.8m to 20 W/Blowers after tax deductions
Fresh energy has been pumped to the effectiveness of the Whistle Blowing Policy following the payment of a total of N375.8m to 20 whistle blowers who aided the seamless recovery of N11.6bn. but this was after deducting taxes on the percentage due to them.
In a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Information in the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, Mr. Salisu Dambatta, government revealed that the payment was only for recovered assets that had been declared free of legal disputes or litigation by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The statement said “This payment, which is the first under the Whistleblower Policy, underscores the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in meeting obligations to information providers under the Whistleblower Policy”.
“The policy is an essential tool in the fight against corruption.
“The Ministry, therefore, encourages all Nigerians with information on misconduct, violation or improper activity which can impact negatively on Nigeria to report it to the appropriate authority,” he said.
The statement noted that the Whistleblower Policy was recently amended to include the introduction of a formal legal agreement between information providers and the Federal Government.
According to Danbatta, the agreement had already been executed by the Minister of Justice and the the amendment was introduced to ensure the protection of the identity of information providers during the payment process.
Though for security reasons, the statement was silent on the specific recoveries for which the monies were being paid saying that “it may endanger the whistleblowers,” it would be recalled that the Whistleblower Unit is a multi-agency team, resident in Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters.
The Unit is staffed by secondees from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Department of State Services. The Nigeria Police Force and Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit form part of the unit.
The Unit is the first line of response to whistleblower information, where the initial review is undertaken before cases are forwarded to the relevant investigative agencies.
So far, the unit has received 2, 150 communications and 337 tips through its dedicated channels from many patriotic Nigerians, which led to the recovery of substantial assets that were illegally acquired by various individuals.
Business Hilights recalls that the primary purpose of the Policy is to support the fight against financial crimes and corruption, promote accountability and enhance transparency in the management of public finances for the good of the nation.
