ANEEJ Calls for Passage of Whistle Blower Bill

By Lucky Isibor

The African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has called on the Federal Government and it's relevant agencies to conclude work on the Whistle Blower protection Bill with a view to passing it into law to strengthen the nation's anti-corruption war. 

Comrade Leo Atakpu, Deputy Executive Director, ANEEJ, (M) representing Rev David Ugolor, Executive Director of the organization at the press briefing to mark the 2022 Int'l Anti-corruption Day in Benin Cityty, Comrade Nowinta Igbotako (R), Board member, ANEEJ and Sandra Eguagie (L), Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation, ANEEJ

The Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor made the call at a press conference to mark the International Anti-corruption Day 2022 in its office in Benin City.

David Ugolor who was represented at the event by the Deputy Executive Director of ANEEJ, Comrade Leo Atakpu also called  on the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to issue guidelines for the full implementation of the Proceeds of Crime and Management Act 2022, as contained in the Act.

"The Witness Protection and Management Bill and the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection Bill 2022, (Whistleblower Bill) are still pending. We urge the Presidential Initiative for Continuous Audit (PICA) within the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly to do the needful, to conclude work on these pending anti-corruption bills. 

"To facilitate the implementation of the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act 2022, the Attorney General of the federation is required to issue a guideline and all the agencies listed in the Act (such as EFCC, ICPC, NFIU, NAFDAC, NAPTIP, NIS, etc) are equally expected to constitute the Proceed of Crime Management Directorate that will play a key role in the implementation of the Act. We expect these individuals and organizations to move quickly to deliver on their responsibilities".

While commending the Federal Government for the steps it has taken so far to strengthen the war against corruption, Ugolor tasked the government on avoiding the pitfalls that stalled the implementation of the first Anti-corruption strategy  and called on Nigerians to unite to fight corruption as the malaise is responsible for slow economic development government inefficiency and instability, stunted economic growth and stifling of forign direct investments.

"We are encouraged by the effort of Nigerian government in concluding work on some anti-corruption laws as we now have the Proceeds of Crime Recovery and Management Act 2022, the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022

" Indeed We must unite to fight corruption, that is why ANEEJ is using the opportunity of this year’s event to raise key issues that will support the implementation of Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework. Interestingly, the Federal Executive Council recently approved the extension of the National Anti-corruption Strategy (NACS) to cover 2022 – 2026. To avoid the pitfalls of the previous strategy, we are using this opportunity to urge the federal government to immediately inaugurate the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) as provided for by the strategy document as the IMC has the responsibility to facilitate the Anti-corruption Funding Framework (AFF) and the development of sector-specific strategies for the implementation of NACS. We are also urging the federal government to properly fund the implementation of the strategy as against what happened with the 1st anti-corruption strategy.

"We equally encourage the FG to provide support to the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) to meet quarterly to promote learning and collaboration amongst anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria".

 While appreciating the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Palladium for providing the resources for ANEEJ and the Anti-corruption cluster to implement the "Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Inclusive Reform Initiative in Nigeria" project, Ugolor tasked the state governments to use the resources at their disposal to build critical infrastructures that will improve the livilihood of the people.

"Again, we urge State governments to use the huge resources at their disposal judiciously and transparently to build critical infrastructures and improve the living standard of the citizens, especially those of the Niger Delta region, who in addition to the month allocation are also receiving 13% oil derivation fund".