The Senate has passed the Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2016 and Witness Protection Bill 2016 for second reading at its plenary sitting on Wednesday 19^th October 2016. Both Bills seek to protect persons who disclose confidential information on the grounds of public interest and will enable the proper investigation of matters disclosed.

Leading the debate on the Whistle Blowers Protection Bill, the Bill’s sponsor, Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP:Ekiti) mentioned that Nigeria ranked 136^th of 175 countries according to a Transparency International report in 2014 of the most corrupt countries in the world. She suggested that the gap in the country’s legal framework to effectively reduce corruption could be linked with the low number of corruption cases successfully prosecuted since they depend on whistleblowers. She also added that few persons had the courage to report questionable practices or abuse of power due to lack of protection and associated risks.

Sen. Olujimi further argued that the provision for protection of whistle blowers would support an open and transparent structure where citizens would be aware of how to report suspected acts of corruption or wrong doing and have the confidence in the reporting procedures free from fear of retaliation. In addition, she was of the view that the existing structures of anti corruption agencies appeared insufficient and that the Bill if passed, would improve the country’s poor performance in its fight against corruption.

Commenting on the Whistle Blowers Bill, Sen. Dino Melaye (APC:Kogi) highlighted that the Bill was presented to both chambers of the National Assembly in the 6^th and 7^th Assemblies and hoped that the 8^th Senate would pass the Bill. He also mentioned that the bill was in tandem with Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the UN Charter on Human and Peoples Rights as well as the African Charter on Human Rights that guarantee the right to freedom of expression.

The Senate also debated on the closely related Witness Protection Programme Bill that seeks to promote law enforcement by facilitating the protection of persons who provide information that assist law enforcement agents. Under the provisions of the Bill, a witness may qualify if he provides information that directly or indirectly assists law enforcement agencies. Furthermore and according to the Bill’s sponsor, Sen. Isiaka Adeleke (APC:Osun), the Bill will also protect investigators, prosecutors and members of the Judiciary and increase the incentive for persons with useful information to testify. He also mentioned that a Witness Protection Bill was already in effect in countries like the United States, Canada, Ukraine New Zealand and Italy in addition to a host of other countries.

Sen. Olusola Adeyeye (APC:Osun) suggested for the merging of the Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2016 and Witness Protection Bill 2016 due to their similarities. At the end of the debate, the bills were referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative action.