TheCable

Josiah Emerole, head, press and public relations of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), says the federal government has approved a whistleblowing policy for the fight against human trafficking.

Emerole made this known to journalists in Abuja on Monday, adding that the approval was conveyed to Julie Okah-Donli, NAPTIP director general, by the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice.

He said the policy became necessary to encourage people to provide information to the agency without fear of the consequences.

Emerole explained that whistleblowing had been paramount among Okah-Donli’s programme since she assumed office in April 2017 because human trafficking has not been effectively tackled as those who have information about it never report to NAPTIP and other relevant agencies.

With the approval, Emerole said members of the public can now freely give information on human trafficking and assets of traffickers for possible confiscation and legal action.

Encouraging people to give verifiable information, he said NAPTIP is working on the reward modalities for informants, adding that the laws against human trafficking would protect them.

The whistleblower policy has been a tool used in the fight against corruption by the Buhari-led administration and has led to cases of money being discovered in various locations.