False whistle blowers to get 5-year jail term, N10m fine

The Senate has passed the Whistle Blowers Protection Bill.

The anti-corruption bill stipulates a penalty of not less than five years imprisonment or a fine of N10 million to inviduduals who give false information.

The bill seeks to encourage and facilitate the disclosures of improper conduct by public officers and private bodies, ensure that matters disclosed are properly investigated and handled appropriately in accordance with the law, ensure adequate protection for the whistle blowers from reprisals, victimisations, job losses, isolation, humiliation among others.

Sponsored by Biodun Olujimi, the proposal was presented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, David Umaru at Wednesday plenary.

Also known as “An Act to Protect Persons Making Disclosures for the Public Interest and Others from Reprisals, to Provide for the Matters Disclosed to be Properly Investigated and Dealt with and for other Purposes Related Therewith”, the bill seeks to ensure that persons who make disclosures and persons who may suffer reprisals in relation to such disclosures are protected under the law.

Under the newly passed bill, a person who makes a disclosure shall no​t​  be subject to victimization by his or her employers or by fellow employees.

Additionally, a person who makes a disclosure has the right to take legal action if he or she is victimized, dismissed, suspended, declared redundant, transferred against his or her will, harassed or intimidated in any manner.

Speaking on the passage of the Bill, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki stated that: “This is a promise kept. Today, we have passed a landmark piece of legislation to fight corruption and protect patriotic Nigerians who are fighting corruption,” he said, “This Bill will protect the lives of those who risk themselves to expose corrupt practices in Nigeria.”

With the passage of this Bill, the Senate has concluded work on three anti-corruption Bills. In May 2017, it passed the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, while in June 2017, it passed the Witness Protection Bill.

The Bill will now be sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence. If passed and assented by the President, Nigeria will join other countries like United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand,  South Africa, Ghana, South Korea, Uganda, Netherlands, Canada with comprehensive whistle blower laws.

In February 2017, Nigeria set up the whistleblowing policy against corruption and other ills in the country.

 

OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja