Senate passes whistle blower bill
Nigerian Senate has passed the much expected whistle blowers protection bill.
The bill seeks to protect persons making disclosure for the public interest and others from reprisals and provides for the matters disclosed to be properly investigated and dealt with accordingly.
This followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Panel on judiciary, human rights and legal matters presented by Senator David Umaru it's chairman.
The Senate in the committee of the whole considered all the clauses of the bill and scaled it through the third and final reading.
Senator Umaru had while presenting the report of the committee mentioned the objectives of the bill to include ensuring adequate protection of whistle blowers from reprisal, discrimination and other consequences associated with the trend.
The bill was dumped by the sixth and seventh Senate out of worries expressed then, by lawmakers that it could be used as a tool for witch-hunt but the anti-corruption stand of the current administration is believed to have been behind the passage of the legislation since the executive already has it as a policy that is being implemented.
The bill is considered a cardinal legislation in the fight against corruption.
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki congratulated the members of the judiciary and anti corruption stating that a land mark has been made.
The bill is expected to be passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the president into law.
Reports by Onuora Aninwobodo
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