FG Vows to Protect Whistle-blowers

By Dipo Olowookere

Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, has reiterated Federal Government’s determination to protect and reward whistle-blowers who provide information that leads to the recovery of stolen funds or assets.

Mr Mohammed, in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, disclosed that the government will protect the identity of all whistle-blowers, whether in the public or the private sector, and also ensure that the information they provide is kept secret.

He said in the statement that, “For those who may have suffered any backlash as a result of the information they provide, their cases will be reviewed and appropriate mitigating actions taken.”

The Minister said the assurance followed the presentations made to the Presidential Assets Recovery Committee by concerned citizens and groups about the safety of whistle-blowers.

He said, “Whistle-blowers have nothing to fear, because the committee has put in place the necessary measures to safeguard those who give useful information. As a matter of fact, whistle-blowers have everything to gain and nothing to lose.”

Mr Mohammed stressed that any whistle-blower whose information leads to the recovery of up to N1 billion will receive 5 percent of the amount; that the reward for any amount between N1 and N5 billion will be 5 percent for the first N1 billion and 4 percent of the remaining N4 billion, and that any amount over N5 billion will attract 2.5 percent reward.

He explained that, “For example, if a whistle-blower provides information leading to the recovery of N10 billion, he or she will receive 5 percent of the first N1 billion, 4 percent of the next N4 billion and 2.5 percent of the remaining N5 billion.

“What we have done by making this information public is to reassure potential whistle-blowers that the plan to reward is real. We are not just saying we will pay all whistle-blowers, but we are letting them know in advance what they are entitled to, once the information they provide leads to the recovery of looted funds.”