[The Activism Blog] Who protects whistleblowers in Nigeria?

As part of government’s effort to eradicate corruption in the country, the National Assembly passed the whistleblowers act on July 19, 2017.

Since it’s passage, it has been effective in some ways, as the EFCC has made various discoveries through the help of whistleblowers. In the same vein, there are news reports of individuals that have been victimised at work for being whistleblowers.

These and many other concerns for the plight of whistleblowers formed the discussion at a recent parley in Lagos. Organised by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) along with Civic Media Lab, Premium Times, Cleen Foundation and some other organisations, to discuss on forms of protection and security for individuals who expose corrupt practices by office holders in the country.

The Executive Director of HEDA Mr Olanrewaju Suraj said “The government rest so much on whistleblower but have fallen short of standard in terms of protecting whistleblowers from reprisal attacks and victimization. It is apparent that we are yet to build the confidence of the citizens to confidently blow the whistle”.

There are also the experiences of what is reported in the news about former whistleblowers of how they are either victimised or vilified and nothing is done. For us, it is important that we reflect together and complement each other to provide the support needed,” Mr Suraj added.

Speaking further, he urged the judiciary to effect speedy judgment on whoever is indicted in corrupt practices and has been found guilty saying, “The Senate passed a bill which is not all-embracing enough while the House of Representatives is yet to pass its own version of the bill. The government should institute a high level of confidentiality for those who blow whistles and also monitor and ensure a legal framework of a speedy dispensation of cases of whistleblowers.”

Another attendee at the event, Mr Shina Odugbemi also re-echoed the need for government to protect whistleblowers against victimisation.

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