Senate approves punishment for false whistle blower

The Senate yesterday passed the whistle blower protection bill and approved five years imprisonment or N10 million as penalty for false information.

The passage of the bill was sequel to consideration of report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters chaired by Senator David Umaru (APC, Niger).

The bill seeks to encourage and facilitate the disclosures of improper conduct by public officers and public bodies both private and public.

It also adopted the five percent reward on recovery of money or property in line with the Federal Government policy on whistle-blowing.

Under the bill, sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti), a person who makes a disclosure shall not be subject to victimization by his or her employers or by fellow employees. Additionally, a person who makes a disclosure has the right to take legal action if he or she is victimized, dismissed, suspended, declared redundant, transferred against his or her will, harassed or intimidated in any manner.

Otherwise known as “An Act to Protect Persons Making Disclosures for the Public Interest and Others from Reprisals, to Provide for the Matters Disclosed to be Properly Investigated and Dealt with and for other Purposes Related Therewith”, the bill also ensures that persons, who make disclosures and persons who may suffer reprisals in relation to such disclosures are protected under the law.