FG creates phone lines for whistle blowing policy

FEDERAL Ministry of Finance has dedicated a telephone for receiving of SMS, a Whistleblower’s portal and an e-mail address through which members of the public who volunteer to disclose information about a possible misconduct or violation could deliver such information for the attention of the team dedicated to process such information.

The Federal Executive Council at its meeting on Wednesday approved the Whistle blowing Policy while Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, launched the policy shortly after the meeting.

And following numerous inquiries on how and where they could deliver information that could lead to stopping or uncovering of fraud to the authorities by Nigerians, the ministry announced SMS 0909 806 7946; Whistel blowers portal: http://www.finance.gov.ng/
  email: Whistle@finance.gov.ng   as dedicated channels of passing information.

The ministry encourages all Nigerians with authentic information about violation, misconduct or improper activity, which can impact negatively on the Nigerian people and government to report it through the three channels dedicated for that purpose.

Briefing State House correspondents after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun said if a whistle blowing leads to a voluntary return of stolen or concealed public funds or assets, the blower may be entitled to between 2.5 per cent (minimum) and 5.0 per cent (maximum) of the total amount recovered.

Adeosun who was joined at the briefing by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, explained that to qualify for the reward, the whistle blower must have provided the government with information it does not already have and could not otherwise obtain from any other source available to the government.

She further explained that the government had already created a secure online ‎portal where information could be submitted, as well as the facility to check the status of the report on the portal.

Adeosun categorised the information that could be ‎reported to include cases bothering on mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets such as properties and vehicles, financial malpractice or fraud, and collecting or soliciting bribe.

Others are corruption, diversion of revenues, fraudulent and unapproved ‎payments, splitting of contracts, and procurement fraud including kickbacks and over invoicing, among others.

The policy, however, does not apply to personal matters concerning private contracts or agreements.
While assuring of absolute confidentiality on the use of the portal, ‎Mrs Adeosun said that government employees, agencies, institutional stakeholders and members of the public were also at liberty to avail themselves of the facility.

“You can submit documentary evidence on the portal. You can also provide specific and fact-based information such as what occurred, amount involved, who was involved and dates of the occurrence on the portal.

“Confidentiality will be maintained to the fullest extent within the limitations of the law. If you choose not to disclose your identity, there will be no record of who you are. If you choose to disclose your identity, it will be fully protected.

”If you whistle blow in public-spirit and in good faith, you will be protected. If you feel that you have been treated badly because of your report, you can file a formal complaint. If you have suffered harassment, intimidation or victimisation for sharing your concerns, restitution will be made for any loss suffered.”