The Federal Government has hailed its whistle-blower policy, which has
led to the recovery of looted funds in many currencies that may
otherwise not have been discovered, describing it as an effective tool
of fighting corruption in Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Lagos
on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, said the policy has also shown the depth of support among Nigerians for the fight against corruption.
He therefore thanked Nigerians for the enthusiasm and commitment that
they have shown in helping the government to tackle the hydra-headed
monster of corruption through the useful leads they have been providing
to appropriate government agencies.
”Since we launched the
whistle-blower policy, we have received immeasurable support from
Nigerians. Yes, there is monetary reward for any information that leads
to recovery of looted funds, but from what we have seen, most of the
Nigerians who have come forward with useful leads were driven by
patriotism rather than reward.
”Nigerians, fired by a fervid
resolve to help banish corruption from their country, have daily
inundated the offices of the appropriate government agencies with
valuable information. We have been told how looters have resorted to
burying stolen funds in their backyards, in deep forests and even in
burial grounds.
”Thanks to whistle-blowers, it is now clear that
a rapacious few have pillaged the nation’s wealth through a vicious
orgy of corrupt practices. Thanks to the useful information provided by
Nigerians, it is now obvious that more funds are in the possession of
looters than are available to government at all levels to meets its
obligations, including paying workers’ salaries, providing social
amenities, upgrading infrastructure and ensuring the security of lives
and property.
”As the looters continue to run helter-skelter,
many of them are even abandoning their booty at unusual places,
including airports. We want to assure Nigerians that we will not abandon
this policy for whatever reason. Instead, we will continue to rejig it
to make it more effective as a tool for fighting corruption,” the
Minister said.
He said the recovered looted funds are safe,
adding that as soon as the necessary reconciliation process and the
litigation in some of the cases are concluded, the government will give a
full account of the funds to Nigerians.
Alhaji Mohammed
re-assured Nigerians who have useful information on looted funds that
the government will protect their identities and also ensure that they
get the stipulated reward for their effort.
360L
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