Whistleblower Bill Scales Second Reading

A BILL that seeks to protect persons who expose corrupt practices in the country has scaled its second reading in the House of Representatives.Sponsored by Hon. Karimi Sunday Steve, representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, the bill has been passed to the House Committee on Justice for further legislative deliberations.Karimi, while speaking to The Guardian in Lokoja yesterday, few daysafter deliberations on the bill on the floor of the House,stressed thatit is intended to curb corruption and corrupt tendencies.The bill provides that once a person, acting in good faith, makes a disclosure alleging that an improper act has been committed and believes that the allegation is substantially true and makes same to relevant authority, the whistleblower will be protected.According to Karimi, the major objectives of the proposed law include ensuring 'that a patriot or whistleblower is protected in law for making disclosures; that he/she does not suffer any form of discrimination or victimisation; that persons authorised to receive disclosure keep it confidential and take requisite action to assist the investigation or stop the improper act and encourage whistleblowers as they are paid from the whistleblower fund.'He said: 'This will help to increase patriotism and political participation among people. It will encourage co-operation in our effort to rid the country of corruption, fraud, economic crimes, terrorism and other related matters.
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