The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has said public confidence in whistleblowing has been weakened by the absence of a law, nine years after the policy was introduced in Nigeria.
AFRICMIL coordinator, Dr. Chido Onumah, said this in a statement ahead of the National Interactive Forum for Judges on Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection scheduled for Thursday, September 18, in Abuja.
He said that while the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) recovered stolen funds in the early years of the policy, the lack of legal protection had discouraged citizens from reporting wrongdoing.
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He added that the judiciary remained the cornerstone of any effective whistleblower protection system, stressing that the success of any legislation would ultimately be determined by the courts.
He noted that the forum, convened in partnership with civil society and government agencies, would bring together judges of the Federal High Courts, anti-corruption agencies, the police, civil society groups and the media.
He explained that discussions would focus on balancing transparency with national security, protecting the anonymity of whistleblowers and adjudicating cases of retaliation.
He said the government should accelerate the process of transmitting a draft whistleblower protection bill to the National Assembly, describing the forum as a complementary effort in the fight against corruption.
‘Whistle-blower protections to be integrated into civil service operations’
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has said the commission is working to integrate ethical frameworks, internal audit systems, and whistle-blower protections into its core operations.
He disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at the FCSC Strategic Plan 2025-2030 Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop, organised in collaboration with PACE, a programme of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
He said the plan will strengthen institutional independence, enhance oversight of MDAs, and reinforce accountability through transparent promotions, competitive examinations, structured interviews, and digital recruitment platforms.
Prof. Olaopa added that the commission is collaborating with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service to institutionalize performance-based systems linking promotions to key performance indicators (KPIs) and citizen feedback. He stressed that inclusivity will also be prioritized, with clear guidelines to ensure representation of women and persons with disabilities, alongside adherence to federal character principles.
He outlined six priorities, including strengthening legal autonomy, deepening meritocracy, digitizing HR processes, and ensuring equity.
Delivering a goodwill message, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, represented by Dr. Deborah Odoh, reaffirmed commitment to reforms aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
