The passing of the whistle blower protection bill by the Senate on Wednesday has been described by many Nigerians as a good development, as it represents perhaps the most concrete demonstration yet of the legislature’s commitment to the anti-corruption of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Below are a few things you may not know about the bil:

TRUE NOMENCLATURE

Though the bill is simply referred to as ‘Whistle-blower bill’, its actual nomenclature is ‘An Act to protect persons making disclosure for the public interest and other related reprisals, to provide for the matters disclosed to be properly investigated and dealt with and for other purposes related therewith’.

SPONSOR

It was sponsored by Biodun Olujimi, the Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate.

JAIL TERM FOR FAKE INFORMANTS

The bill provides a minimum of five years or a fine of N10 million for anyone who provides false information on supposed corrupt activity. The lawmakers say this would curb the many incidents of false whistle-blowing that have been witnessed in the country recently.

REWARD FOR WHISTLE-BLOWERS

The bill also stipulates that anyone who provides authentic information that leads to the retrieval of loot could be entitled to five percent of the total amount recovered. This will serve as incentive and encouragement to others to come up with credible information.

PROTECTION FROM VICTIMIZATION

The bill provides that a whistle-blower shall not be subject to victimisation by his employer or colleagues on account of the information he has provided.

The whistle-blower also has the right to take legal action if he or she is victimised, dismissed, suspended, transferred or declared redundant in any manner as a result of his providing information to the authorities.

TWO RELATED BILLS

Before Wednesday, the Senate had passed two whistle-blower-related bills since May 2017. They are: the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill and the Witness Protection Bill.

NOT YET READY FOR SIGNING

The bill can only become law after it has been signed by the President. But that will not happen yet until it has been sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence. After that, a joint committee of the House and the Senate will harmonise it before the harmonised copy will be sent for presidential assent.