The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), alongside the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called for the urgent passage of a robust whistleblower protection law in Nigeria. This plea was made during the 2024 African Anti-Corruption Day ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, themed “Effective Whistleblower Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption.”
Organized by the Inter-Agency Task Team on Anti-Corruption, which includes various government agencies and civil society organizations, the event emphasized the necessity of legal frameworks to safeguard whistleblowers’ anonymity, safety, and rights.
Fagbemi highlighted the significance of a strong whistleblower law in enhancing the fight against corruption and promoting accountability. “Nigeria has a Whistleblowing Policy from 2016 that encourages the voluntary disclosure of corruption and theft. However, we need to collaborate with the Legislature to ensure this policy becomes law,” Fagbemi stated.
ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu underscored the Supreme Court’s validation of the ICPC’s authority to protect whistleblowers and pointed out the policy’s successes, including the recovery of looted funds. He urged lawmakers to prioritize the bill’s passage.
“Section 64 of the ICPC Act 2000 mandates ICPC to protect whistleblowers, and this has been validated by the Supreme Court. Whistleblowers play a crucial role in our fight against corruption, and their protection is paramount,” Aliyu asserted.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede echoed the call for legal support, noting that a robust whistleblower law would encourage citizens to report corruption, thus strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts. He urged civil society organizations to support the bill’s passage.
“The fight against corruption is critical due to its threat to growth and development. Corruption, apart from terrorism, is one of the deadliest afflictions humanity faces,” Olukoyede emphasized.
Other speakers, including representatives from various anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners, discussed strategies to enhance whistleblower protection, the role of technology in combating corruption, and the importance of public awareness in fostering transparency and accountability.
Mrs. Jane Onwumere, Head of the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR), highlighted the crucial role of whistleblowers and the need for effective protection mechanisms. She pointed out that despite the 2016 policy, Nigeria has yet to pass a whistleblower protection law.
Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), emphasized the negative impact of corruption on democracy, development, and economic growth in Africa. He stressed the need for robust whistleblower mechanisms and inter-agency cooperation.
Additionally, the Statistician-General of the Federation and CEO of the National Bureau of Statistics, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, launched the Third Corruption Survey Report in Nigeria. Conducted with support from the UNODC, MacArthur Foundation, and the Kingdom of Denmark, the survey provides data on corruption trends and anti-corruption efforts. Key findings include:
34% of citizens have paid or been asked to pay a bribe when encountering public officials.
Reporting of bribery increased from 3.6% in 2019 to 8.6% in 2023.
65% of bribery cases were reported to the police, and 28% to anti-corruption agencies.
45% of reported cases led to formal procedures against the offenders.
The ceremony underscored the critical role of whistleblowers and the urgent need for a protective legal framework to enhance the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
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