Lack of legal backing failed whistleblowing policy– Ex finance minister

A former minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said absence of legal backing caused the failure of Whistle Blower policy during her tenure. Recall that the whistleblower policy was introduced in December 2016 by the Federal Government as part of the initiatives to wage war against corruption. Adeosun, who was the finance minister from 2015 […]

A former minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said absence of legal backing caused the failure of Whistle Blower policy during her tenure.

Recall that the whistleblower policy was introduced in December 2016 by the Federal Government as part of the initiatives to wage war against corruption.

Adeosun, who was the finance minister from 2015 to 2018, underscored the importance of the whistle-blower policy while delivering her keynote address at the second edition of the Citadel School of Government (CSG) Dialogue series in Lagos.

The CSG was founded by Pastor Tunde Bakare.

Speaking on the topic: “The Rough Road to Reforms: The Risks, the Resistance, The Reprisals and the Resilient Leader”, Adeosun said the whistle blowing policy of the federal government remained one of the late president Muhammadu Buhari’s successful initiatives.

She noted that any policy of government without legal backing can be easily jettisoned.

“Government policies with legal backing become difficult to change by subsequent administrations that do not like them.

“Leaders, who are reformers often face institutional resistance and must find ways to overcome such obstacles,” she said.

She said that a reformer in leadership must be compassionate as well as carry people along.

The former minister stated that corruption is not peculiar to Nigeria, saying that it is in all parts of the world.

“Nigeria only needs building of strong institutions to correct human behaviour to stamp out corruption,” she said.

Bakare, who is the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), commended Adeosun for continuing to do great things to benefit Nigeria, “in spite of the fire she faced”.

He described the former minister as a “daughter of God, who made us proud”.

“If Adeosun had not won her case, the stigma would have trailed her.

“It is highly commendable that she came out as minister, and no houses or stolen funds were traced to her,” he said.

Bakare said the topic remained germane to prepare those in government and those aspiring to lead to be resilient and think through the reforms they would be bringing in.

“Reforms may not usher in an immediate change, but there is always a need to remain focused and not chase shadows,” he said.