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By Sunday Ani
Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to hasten the passage of the Whistleblowers Protection Bill pending before it, into law.
He made the call on Friday at a two-day national anti-corruption colloquium organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Corruption in Lagos.
Tagged, “Transparency, Accountability, Compliance: TAC’24,” the talk-show brought together officials from the government ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals, as well as members of the security agencies, to brainstorm and cross-fertilize ideas on the best way to tackle the issue of corruption in Nigeria.
Dr. Aliyu noted that whistleblowers play a critical role in exposing corruption, misuse of power and unethical practices within the public sector.
He described whistle-blowing as a globally recognised potent tool against corruption, as its impacts span various sectors, ranging from preserving public funds to averting health and environmental disasters. “Functionally, whistle-blowing allows individuals to report wrongdoing, offering organisations a chance to rectify issues before they cause irreparable harm,” he stated.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Finance for introducing an initiative that rewards informants with a percentage of the recovered funds; a development he said had recorded some successes, but lamented that the momentum appeared to be waning because the whistleblowers are not adequately protected. “Thus, strengthening support for whistleblowers and enhancing reporting mechanisms in public sector is not just beneficial but imperative for fostering an environment, where ethical conduct is championed and misconduct promptly addressed through legal framework and protections, institutional mechanisms and culture, technological solutions and anonymous reporting, education and awareness as well as public sector examples and outcomes,” he stated.
He further argued that strengthening whistle blowers and reporting mechanisms in the public sector is essential for promoting accountability, integrity and trust in public institutions. “By implementing comprehensive legal protections, building supportive institutional cultures, leveraging technology for secure reporting and promoting awareness and education, the public sector can create an environment, where whistle-blowing is protected and encouraged. The courage of whistleblowers, when adequately supported, can be a powerful force for positive change, ensuring that public institutions serve their purposes ethically and transparently,” he said.
In his response, the Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Anti-Corruption, Kayode Moshood Akiolu assured that he would convey the message to his fellow lawmakers, and that they would ensure that anything that would reduce corruption to its barest minimum, including passing the whistleblowers protection bill into law, was done.
Also in his presentation, “Ethical conducts for public sector moralities,” the acting chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Murtala Aliyu Kankia noted that combating corruption was not merely choice but a moral imperative on all public officers who have the interest of the country at heart.
He lamented that some of the basic ethical standards which ought to be internalized by civil servants such as political neutrality, integrity and moral rectitude, discipline, loyalty, honesty, courage, courtesy, cooperation, tact, industry, tidiness, good image of the service, efficiency, flexibility and decision making among others had been relegated to the background.
He lamented that the decline in public morality and the pervasive unethical conduct that has infiltrated all levels of public sector in Nigeria has limited the country’s potentials to be a leading nation not just in Africa but in the world. “The implications of such conduct are profound and pervasive. Unethical behaviour in the public sector erodes trust between government and its citizens. It undermines our development efforts towards economic growth and development, and it deprives our most vulnerable populations of the services and support they desperately need,” he said.
He also stated that the actions and behaviours of Nigeria’s public sector is examined under global scrutiny, insisting that the repercussions are far reaching as investors exhibit reservation to associate with a system perceived as corrupt, leading to missed opportunity.
He noted that the CCB stands as a steadfast guardian of ethical conduct and public moralities in public sector. “Through our meticulous administration and asset declaration, stringent verification processes, robust enforcement of the code of conduct, successful prosecution and extensive training and awareness initiatives, we uphold the values and principles that define ethical conduct. Let us all embrace a strong will to implement anti-corruption measures in the public sector and work together to cultivate a culture of integrity and moral rectitude within our beloved nation.
We stand at a critical juncture in our fight where our collective commitment to ethical behaviour will shape the future of our nation. Let us, therefore, embark on a journey of transformation, where integrity becomes the cornerstone of our public sector,” he stressed.
The CCB boss also believes that with the collaborative efforts of the CCB, the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), there would be no room for corruption in Nigeria.
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