Abuja: Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the executive and legislative arms of government to push for the enactment of a whistleblowing law to strengthen the fight against corruption in the country. The CSOs, including the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) and the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI), made the call in Abuja during a one-day capacity development workshop focused on public interest disclosure and accountability.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop was organized in partnership with the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Dr. Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL, emphasized the necessity of a whistleblowing law due to the increasing level of corruption, particularly in the public service. Onumah stated that the goal is to encourage citizens to adopt whistleblowing as a transformative culture to expose corrupt practices and illegalities.
Onumah added that collaboration with partners across the country’s six geo-political zones is ongoing to ensure the enactment of a whistleblowing law. He explained that they are working with MDAs to familiarize them with the whistleblowing policy introduced by the Nigerian government in December 2016. Despite the introduction of this policy, the absence of a formal law leaves whistleblowers vulnerable to retaliation within their organizations.
Onumah further highlighted the need for legal protection for civil servants who report irregularities, stating that such a law would encourage more people to come forward without fear of reprisal. He noted that a survey conducted five years ago revealed that many individuals refrained from reporting wrongdoing due to the risk of facing retaliation.
Mr. Abdul Mahmud, President of the Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL), urged MDAs to establish whistleblowing desks to facilitate disclosures by workers. He called for severe penalties for those who retaliate against whistleblowers and stressed the importance of reforming both the institutional framework and individual behaviors to effectively combat public resource theft.
Mr. Dasuki Arabi, Director-General of BPSR, reiterated the commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance within the public sector. He mentioned that the workshop aligns with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011, which promotes openness and access to public information. Arabi underscored the importance of fostering a safe environment for whistleblowers and ensuring legal support to empower public servants and citizens to expose unethical practices without fear.