The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said on Friday that not
all whistleblowers would get five per cent of the recovered
sum.
According to him, the reward could be as low as one per cent of
what is recovered depending on the amount.
The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said the Federal
Government has received 1,231 tips from whistleblowers since the
policy was introduced in 2016.
She said 791 investigations were commenced, 534 had been
concluded, with N7.8billion, $378million and 27,800 pounds
recovered so far.
Sagay and Adeosun spoke in Abuja at an “Evaluation workshop on
the whistleblower policy and the role of the inter-agency asset
tracing team,” organised by PACAC.
Adeosun was represented by Head, Presidential Initiative on
Continuous Audit (PICA) and Whistleblower Unit of the Ministry of
Finance, Dr. Mohammed Dikwa.
Sagay said Nigerians should be made aware that not every whistle
blower would get five per cent of what is recovered.
“One controversial issue in the policy is the question of
remuneration. The public seems to be fixated on five per cent. But
in fact, five per cent is the maximum.
“It can be as little as one per cent, depending on the amount of
money involved. It could be slightly more if it is an extremely
large amount,” he said.
The eminent professor of law described the whistleblower policy
as “very successful,” adding that it was not limited to looted
funds.
“Things like breach of procurement practice, which is closely
associated with corruption and unapproved expenditure by agencies,
are all subject of whistleblowing,” Sagay said.
Adeosun said the Whistle blower Team in her ministry went on a
study tour of the United Kingdom and met with relevant agencies to
learn best practices.
“Following lessons learnt from the study tour, we will begin to
focus more on preventive measures, putting in place tight control
measures, making it more difficult for a few people to take away
assets that belong to an entire country.
“In addition to this, the investigation framework of the
whistleblower policy will be reviewed.
“We will continue to work with all stakeholders to improve the
effectiveness of the policy and put in place required institutions
and tools to achieve our objective,” she said.
PACAC Executive Secretary, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said not all
acts of whistleblowing attract reward.
For instance, he said a situation where a planned fund diversion
is stopped, there would be no financial reward for the person who
gave the tip-off.
He, however, urged Nigerians to view whistleblowing as a civil
duty and a constitutional responsibility.
“There is a duty to report, even without the five per cent
reward,” he said.
The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against
Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said on Friday that not
all whistleblowers would get five per cent of the recovered
sum.
According to him, the reward could be as low as one per cent of
what is recovered depending on the amount.
The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said the Federal
Government has received 1,231 tips from whistleblowers since the
policy was introduced in 2016.
She said 791 investigations were commenced, 534 had been
concluded, with N7.8billion, $378million and 27,800 pounds
recovered so far.
Sagay and Adeosun spoke in Abuja at an “Evaluation workshop on
the whistleblower policy and the role of the inter-agency asset
tracing team,” organised by PACAC.
Adeosun was represented by Head, Presidential Initiative on
Continuous Audit (PICA) and Whistleblower Unit of the Ministry of
Finance, Dr. Mohammed Dikwa.
Sagay said Nigerians should be made aware that not every whistle
blower would get five per cent of what is recovered.
“One controversial issue in the policy is the question of
remuneration. The public seems to be fixated on five per cent. But
in fact, five per cent is the maximum.
“It can be as little as one per cent, depending on the amount of
money involved. It could be slightly more if it is an extremely
large amount,” he said.
The eminent professor of law described the whistleblower policy
as “very successful,” adding that it was not limited to looted
funds.
“Things like breach of procurement practice, which is closely
associated with corruption and unapproved expenditure by agencies,
are all subject of whistleblowing,” Sagay said.
Adeosun said the Whistle blower Team in her ministry went on a
study tour of the United Kingdom and met with relevant agencies to
learn best practices.
“Following lessons learnt from the study tour, we will begin to
focus more on preventive measures, putting in place tight control
measures, making it more difficult for a few people to take away
assets that belong to an entire country.
“In addition to this, the investigation framework of the
whistleblower policy will be reviewed.
“We will continue to work with all stakeholders to improve the
effectiveness of the policy and put in place required institutions
and tools to achieve our objective,” she said.
PACAC Executive Secretary, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said not all
acts of whistleblowing attract reward.
For instance, he said a situation where a planned fund diversion
is stopped, there would be no financial reward for the person who
gave the tip-off.
He, however, urged Nigerians to view whistleblowing as a civil
duty and a constitutional responsibility.
“There is a duty to report, even without the five per cent
reward,” he said.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/not-all-whistleblowers-will-get-5-reward-sagay/