KEDCO introduces whistle-blowing for effective service delivery

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has initiated a whistle blowing policy as part of effort to enable the company to obtain early warning signals on what may be wrong in the organization especially in cases where it would be difficult to identify immediately.

This is contained in a statement signed by the head corporate communications unit of the company, Mr Ibrahim Sani-Shawai, and made available to journalists in Kano Tuesday.

He said the decision to introduce the policy was borne out of renewed effort to promote openness and transparency as well as to generate an environment of trust and integrity.

“The policy will help whistleblowers to report suspected wrongdoing in order to correct integrity related issues and reduce electricity theft.

“The whistleblowing policy is designed to encourage the reporting of an employee or customer involved in suspected misconduct, illegal acts, electricity theft, fraud, bribery or failure to act within the limitations or standards of KEDCO.

“The whistleblower can be an employee, a customer, a contractor, a vendor or any stakeholder of the organization who voluntarily provides information or discloses any misconduct, via phone call, face to face or in writing via a letter/SMS/email/whatsapp.

“The whistleblowing policy is open and applicable to all KEDCO employees, customers and other stakeholders,” Sani-Shawai said.

He explained that the expected benefits of this policy include: making employees conscious of wrongdoing, to remove corruption and crimes from the organization.

Similarly, he said, the policy would make employees more responsible and gives them authority to raise their concerns, reduce risks, improvement of Internal Audit skills, and understand the consequences of committing offences.

In addition, he said it would improve company’s brand image and customer confidence in the management, enhance transparency and accountability, reduce energy theft as well as reduce revenue leakages.

“The identity of whistleblowers will remain anonymous, unless the whistleblowers choose to disclose their identity. Upon receipt of the information, the concerned authority shall send an investigation request to the Head of Internal Audit.  

“Incentive shall be monetary and may be paid in cash to maintain anonymity, alternative payment methods may be used if the amount is higher than N100, 000,” he said.

He however, warned that any whistleblower, who gives false/malicious or misleading information, would face necessary disciplinary action in the case of employees while any non-employee involved, the matter will be handled in accordance with the laws of the land.

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