Minister of Information and culture has lauded the whistle blower policy of the Federal Government stating that it has led to the recovery of many looted funds.
Alhaji Mohammed stated this yesterday while declaring open the 68th General Assembly of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON) in Abuja.
He said the policy has led to the recovery of about 43 million dollars and 56 houses from just one former government official and 2.9 billion dollars from other looters so far.
“Our Whistle-blower policy has also led to the recovery of 151 million dollars and N8 billion in looted funds from just three sources,’’ the Minister said.
He appealed to the media to fully support the Administration’s fight against corruption, saying the fourth estate of the realm cannot afford to sit on the fence as far as the battle to rid the nation of corruption is concerned.
The Minister said while the media should not hesitate to criticise the government’s strategy for the war against corruption when necessary, it should do so without mocking the government.
Alhaji Mohammed said the war against corruption becomes tougher when the media is not fully on board, adding: ‘’When the media seizes on every setback we suffer in prosecuting this war, they give succour to the corrupt. When the media falls for the distraction tactics of those
who are mortally afraid of this war, they weaken the battle.’’
“In recent times, it is not unusual to read such headlines as ‘Buhari’s Government Losing Anti-Corruption War’, ‘Buhari’s Anti-Corruption War is Failing’, ‘Arewa Youths Knock President Buhari Over Failing Anti-corruption War’. This is sheer mockery. And this war is not Buhari’s war. It is our war,” he said.
On why all hands must be on deck to fight corruption, Alhaji Mohammed said corruption is the reason for the many ills being experienced in the country today, including erratic power supply, poorly-equipped hospitals, lack of motorable roads, poor quality of life, poor economy, lack of jobs and insecurity.
He said Boko Haram thrived for so long because of corruption, adding that money meant for the purchase of weapons for the military were simply diverted.
