The African Center for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has called on the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Whistleblower Protection Bill to bolster the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
AFRICMIL’s Coordinator, Dr. Chido Onumah, made the appeal during a one-day workshop for law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies in Port Harcourt on Thursday. The event, organized in collaboration with Social Action and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, aimed to reinforce the effectiveness of whistleblowing as a tool against corruption.
Onumah highlighted the importance of the Whistleblower Protection Bill, noting that whistleblowing is recognized as one of the most effective methods for exposing corruption and enhancing accountability within organizations.
“Despite the success of the whistleblowing policy introduced by the Federal Government in 2016, whistleblowers have increasingly faced retaliation due to the lack of protective legislation,” Onumah stated.
He added that the absence of legal protection has discouraged many public sector employees from reporting corruption, resulting in fewer disclosures over the years. “Attacks on whistleblowers, such as suspension, denial of salaries, punitive transfers, and outright dismissal, have made many reluctant to come forward,” he explained.
Onumah urged the National Assembly to pass the bill promptly, saying, “The protection of whistleblowers is crucial to sustaining the fight against corruption and ensuring that those who expose wrongdoing are not victimized.”
Speaking on Nigeria’s whistleblowing policy, Mr. Johnson Oludara, Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Finance, emphasized the ongoing relevance of the policy. “Many Nigerians mistakenly believe the policy is no longer in force, but it remains vital to combating corruption and financial crimes,” Oludara noted.
He argued that the policy serves as a deterrent to misconduct, adding, “The existence of a whistleblowing system is often enough to prevent fraud and other illegal activities due to the fear of legal repercussions.”
Dr. Isaac Osuoka, Executive Director of Social Action, echoed the call for the bill’s passage, stressing the need for collaboration among anti-corruption agencies, civil society, and the media to strengthen the fight against corruption.
“Passing the Whistleblower Protection Bill will significantly enhance the effectiveness of whistleblowing as a tool for transparency and accountability in Nigeria,” Osuoka said, represented by Mercy Atsekurubu, Acting Executive Director of Social Action
