zainabsule@yahoo.com, www.zainabokino.blogspot.com
That not all Nigerians accept corruption as a way of life and majority even abhor it is not in doubt; this has been demonstrated in the acceptability and efficacy of the whistle-blowers’ policy recently introduced by the federal government. Many are prepared to collaborate with the government to reduce corruption to the barest minimum, and can even expose their ogas and relations especially with the financial gratification attached to such expose`.
Buoyed by the success of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in recovering looted funds with the help of the new policy, the FG is considering expanding its scope to deal with illegal possession of arms and ammunition. Arms proliferation has been a frightening dimension to the country’s security challenges as Nigeria is known as a destination for illicit arms.
The whistle blowers’ policy was conceptualised by the ministry of finance to encourage the populace to report on stolen or looted monies kept outside the banking system. Since the government began the implementation of TSA and BVN, there has been no comfort zone for those who emptied the treasury, enriched themselves and rendered the country broke. Now, the federal government wants to replicate and extend same to those in illegal possession of arms for nefarious purposes.
You cannot blame the federal government; the APC-led government has been in dire straight since it took over the mantle of leadership. Foreign reserve was depleted and foreign currency, which depends on oil was not being replenished due to fall in oil price at the international market besides pipeline vandalism and disturbances in the Niger-Delta owed largely to the activities of Niger-Delta Avengers. With this myriad of problems the nation’s economy was in near comatose. An ingenious way to tackle the problems was needed, thus the birth of the whistle bowers’ policy.
Originally, the skeptical public who had endured the government’s lack-lustre performance in fulfilling their campaign promises did not give the novel policy any chance of success. However, the big break was the EFCC’s discovery of looted monies (or alleged gifts) hidden in a decrepit building in run down location in a Sabo Tasha suburb of Kaduna state allegedly owned by the former Group Managing Director of NNPC. In a quick succession, monies were found in Kaduna airport, Lagos market and the biggest of them all at the Osborne road, Ikoyi house where over N13 billion were recovered.
Eager to shore up their sagging image and loss of popularity, the FG is latching on the workability of that process to expand the frontiers of the policy to include illegal weapons. The National Security Adviser, Maj. General Babagana Monguno (rtd) is said to have initiated a template for the discovery and recovery of illegal arms. According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mal. Garba Shehu, Munguno’s approach would focus on gun control. The mechanism, according to them, will also help to eradicate and prevent illegal ownership of small arms and light weapons which criminals maximize to terrorise or get even with presumed enemies without recourse to due process of litigations. Ditto with politicians who harbour arms for election-day violence, and equally arm their thugs with weapons to harass their opponents. Meanwhile, arms are commonplace because our borders are porous and the provision of the law on it is either not sufficient, archaic or weak. The 1959 firearm act is yet to be amended despite practising civil rule for over 17 years and being in the fourth republic.
By far, this is about the most successful policy ever initiated by this government. On the economic front, it failed woefully. In conjunction with the CBN, the FG’s economic policy has been a resounding failure; it only succeeded in pauperizing Nigerians as most families are unable to meet their basic needs. Costs of foods rose astronomically without concomitant rise in citizens’ personal finances
The government was unable to manage its success after winning election. Although Boko Haram was fought to a standstill, its vestiges still remain. Only last week the terrorist group sacked an army battalion and killed several soldiers and officers, not to talk of their attack on soft targets, through teenage suicide bombing. The party in power is in disarray. Instead of a cohesive party working in sync for the good of the people, what we see is a conclave of aggrieved members carving their own niche for the advancement of their interests.
The whistle blowing policy on illegal arms and weapons may be explosive and daunting. Although there is apprehension regarding whether it will work or not, in my own opinion, it is worth trying and it will work if government has the will, and is transparent about it.
The technical details that will go into its planning, how it would work, who will pay the whistle blower and training of security personnel to handle such sensitive matters are not difficult to fix in the interest of the nation, if the government is determined to do it and the legal framework are clearly spelt out, such as protection for the whistle blower and monetary inducement. The policy should be all encompassing without prejudice to political affiliation, status or ethnic consideration.
