The House of Representatives is proposing a bill that seeks to impose a seven-year jail term or a ₦5 million fine for individuals found guilty of workplace bribery across Nigeria.
Sponsored by Rep. Paul Nnamchi (Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency) and three other lawmakers, this bill aims to significantly curb bribery in both public and private sector workplaces.
The proposed legislation, officially titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide Effective Deterrence and Consequences for Bribery in Workplaces,” outlines stringent penalties for bribery offenses committed within government agencies, corporations, non-governmental organizations, and other professional environments.
The bill is slated for further debate when the House reconvenes on June 17.
A copy of the bill defines bribery as “the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of anything of value as an inducement or reward to influence the actions of an employee, officer, or agent in the workplace.”
Under the proposed law, anyone who offers or gives a bribe ‘in cash, gifts, favours, or other benefits’ to influence an official action will be liable, upon conviction, to a fine of not less than N5 million or three times the value of the bribe, whichever is higher, and/or imprisonment for a minimum of seven years.
Furthermore, it proposes a stiffer penalty of a 10-year jail term and the same financial sanctions for anyone who solicits or receives a bribe.
In cases involving corporate organisations, guilty entities will face a fine of not less than N100 million, while their directors or responsible officers will be prosecuted and, if convicted, face a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Companies convicted of workplace bribery may also lose their operating licences and face a 10-year ban from public procurement contracts.
Additionally, the bill includes whistleblower protections, requiring all workplaces to implement anti-bribery policies and anonymous reporting channels.
It criminalises retaliation against whistleblowers, imposing a minimum N10 million fine and a five-year jail term on employers or individuals who harass or victimise them.
The bill also compels employers to report bribery within their organizations or face a minimum fine of N20 million and/or five years’ imprisonment.
To drive enforcement, the bill proposes establishing a Workplace Anti-Bribery Unit within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. This unit will investigate workplace bribery, prosecute offenders, and monitor compliance.
Assets and funds linked to bribery, according to the bill, will be forfeited to the Federal Government and channelled into anti-corruption and economic development initiatives.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice is expected to collaborate with the EFCC in issuing regulations for the effective implementation of the proposed law.
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