FG Begins Nationwide Whistleblowing Sensitisation
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide sensitization programme for the implementation of Nigeria’s Whistleblowing Policy.
Beginning with an event in Lagos, the programme is part of an ongoing effort to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the Whistleblowing Policy is a tool to combat financial crimes and mismanagement.
“The Whistleblowing Policy is designed to encourage the reporting of suspicious activities or wrongdoing related to financial crimes, mismanagement of public funds, or other illicit activities within the public or private sectors,” the Minister said.
Represented by Mr. Raymond Omenka Omachi, Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, the Minister noted that the programme aims to educate stakeholders on the policy’s framework, explain its importance in fighting corruption, and provide insights into reporting procedures and the protections available to whistleblowers.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, the nationwide program began in Lagos due to the city’s status as a major commercial hub with a consistently sound financial management system.
The Minister encouraged all stakeholders to participate actively in enforcing compliance with the policy. The sensitization programme, organized through the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), is intended to raise public awareness and strengthen the policy’s effectiveness.
Officials at the event acknowledged that the current administration is working to enhance the policy, which was first approved in 2016 during the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari. They also addressed systemic challenges that have hindered effective implementation, such as low public awareness and a cultural resistance to reporting misconduct.
In his keynote address, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Taxation, Abdul-kabir Opeyemi Ogunbo, called for a review of the Whistleblowers Protection Bill to shield whistleblowers and institutionalize the policy for rebuilding public trust.
The Governor stressed that the state is fully committed to strengthening inter-agency collaboration to ensure strict compliance. He encouraged residents to use the initiative to report infractions, stating that it provides for the confidentiality and protection of whistleblowers against retaliation.
In their separate remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Auditor General of the Federation praised the initiative, calling for active participation from all stakeholders as a way for the government to fight corruption.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, committed the ministry to ensuring the sustainability of the initiative and said that “the economic recovery already achieved through the system was enormous.” She encouraged stronger synergies with concerned agencies.
