Aneej Calls For Speedy Passage Of Witness Protection and Whistleblower Bills
By: Femi Mustapha Kaduna
Africa Network for Environment & Economic Justice, ANEEJ, has called for the speedy passage of the Witness Protection and Whistleblower Bills by the National Assembly.
The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, stated this during the two-day anti-corruption and social inclusive reform initiative reform seminar held in Abuja recently.
According to him, after the signing into law the Proceeds of Crime Bill by Mr President give boost to the anti Corruption war, but here are other on the queue such as the Whistleblower Protection Bill and the Witness Protection Bill which the Upper and lower Chamber should passed for the President’s signature.
The two proposals, according to him, have been long overdue for consideration and passage, since they are vital to a successful fight against corruption in Nigeria.
The ANEEJ Executive explained that the two bills are extremely important in checking pervasive corruption in the country; particularly delighted with the whistleblower bill given the frontline role of whistle-blowing as an instrument for combating corruption and other forms of wrongdoing, as well as achieving transparent, accountable and democratic good governance.
Rev. Ugolor stressed the importance of whistle-blowing in the society, stating that the country’s laws encouraged residents to report crimes, but regretted that there were no laws protecting citizens who were subjected to various forms of punishment for reporting illegalities.
“With the announcement of the whistle-blowing policy in 2016, it was taken for granted that citizens who demonstrate the rare courage to blow the whistle by submitting productive reports of corrupt practices to appropriate quarters would enjoy full protection, but the reverse has since been the case.
“In the absence of a robust legal framework that ensures effective protection for citizens who respond to the call to report a crime, the regime of impunity manifested in routine arbitrary punishment of workers has taken firm root in the public sector.
He added that a corrupt free society is a pinnacle to address poverty and inequality amongst the people’’,
” We consider the passage of the bills as an important step that will seek to promote and engage in anti corruption policy reforms at both the National and sub-national levels with a goal of strengthening governance to deliver development goals to the citizens
He added that Witness Protection will prevent all kinds of reprisals ranging from threats and intimidation, suspension, withholding of salary, denial of promotion, outright dismissal and much more are continually being inflicted on whistleblowers in the public service.
“Regrettably, the masterminds and enforcers of the several victimizations have intensified efforts in all kinds of despicable schemes to punish whistleblowers by exploiting the gap created by the absence of a functional whistle-blowing law that guarantees protection and sanction perpetrators of victimization.” he stressed
