Is Ogun State inching towards the promulgation of a law that will encourage whistle blowing to discourage cases of fraud and other corrupt practices in the state?
Achieving this objective may not be too far a goal now as the state's House of Assembly makes progress with a bill before it titled: "Ogun State Anti-Corruption Law, 2021".
The Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Olakunle Oluomo has announced that the Assembly would hold a stakeholders’ forum on “H.B. No. 072/OG/2021-the Ogun State Anti-Corruption Law, 2021" today, Friday, November 19 at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
If the bill to be discussed today eventually becomes successful, a law to establish the Ogun State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law and for connected purposes would be passed and its clauses may include a whistle blowing policy for the state.
Whistle-blowing Policy in Nigeria is an anti-corruption programme that encourages people to voluntarily disclose information about fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct, government assets and any other form of corruption or theft to the Ministry of Finance.
Under the whistle blowing policy, any form of harassment, victimization or retaliation undertaken by a staff member against any person for reporting an irregularity in good faith would be prohibited and considered to be a breach of the loyalty and professional ethics requirements of the Code of Conduct.
The consequence of the whistle blower policy if adopted by the state is that it may quicken the state's zero tolerance for fraudulent practices and make Ogun State a no nonsense corruption free state.
According to Speaker Oluomo, the public hearing for the bill would take place at 10:00am prompt; while all relevant stakeholders are enjoined to be seated by 9.30 am prompt.
Meanwhile, in a bid to forestall a breach of security as well as prevent further spread of COVID-19 among the people, the House of Assembly has passed a resolution, calling on the government and all security agencies to place a ban on street carnivals and usage of fireworks during the coming yuletide.
The passage of the resolution followed an extended debate by lawmakers, leading to a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff and seconded by a member representing Ijebu North I State Constituency, Sylvester Abiodun and supported by all the lawmakers at a Plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
According to the lawmakers who spoke in unison, it was imperative for the State Government to consider suspending any forms of carnival or street procession which could further affect the security situation in the State, noting that such event organised in the past had resulted in clashes leading to breach of public peace.
Passing the motion into resolution, the Speaker noted that the lawmakers’ decision was in the best interest of the State, saying that the Assembly as an institution, would not allow any criminal act under the guise of carnivals, disrupt the relative peace being enjoyed in the State.
He directed the Clerk and Head of Legislative Services, Mr. 'Deji Adeyemo to convey the Assembly’s resolution to the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and all security formations.
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