In this month of May alone, the federal government of Nigeria has paid over N439 million to 18 whistleblowers that provided information on companies deliberately not meeting up with their tax obligations.

The FG also recovered about N13.9billion from tax evaders through the assistance of volunteers who provided tips on evading tax companies in the country.

The Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, made these revelations yesterday in Abuja, during a press briefing, after meeting with 10 World Bank directors, who are in the country to monitor the progress of the Bank’s supported projects in Nigeria.

She stated that the policy, which commenced in 2016, is now targeting not only those that embezzle money from the government coffers, but also non- regular taxpayers, as well as those who underpay their taxes.

Giving more insight into the progress made in the whistleblowing policy, Adeosun said government has received 8,373 communications, 1231 tips and 534 investigations since it started. She, however, disclosed that while 10 prosecutions were pursued, only four convictions have been recorded, explaining that government is getting more tips on the policy, as more companies are now paying their taxes through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), adding: “We are getting far more tips on tax evasion, which, of course, is a crime against all of us.”

She said the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other tax authorities were doing a lot on enforcement of payment and the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) has helped in increasing the number of taxpayers captured in the tax base of the country. The minister also disclosed that government has concluded plans to deepen the whistleblowing policy in institutions, such as ministries, MDAs and parastatals.

The minister disclosed that the whistleblowing unit travelled to the United Kingdom (UK) to understudy how the policy works there, visiting institutions as the Commonwealth Office, Customs and others, even as their findings are to be applied within to deepen the policy in Nigeria.

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Nigeria's Whistleblower policy yields positive returns