Nigeria’s Whistle-Blowing Policy will promote transparency – Anambra Governor

Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra state, says Nigeria’s Whistle Blowing Policy will help his administration to promote transparency, accountability and good governance

The Governor who said the policy would be implemented in the state promised to reward any whistleblower on corrupt government officials, contractors and other elective leaders in the state.

He said the whistle-blowers would also be given adequate government protection adding that the reward will depend on the nature of the case.

Soludo, who disclosed this through the Transition Committee Chairman of Aguata Council Area of the State, Dr Chibueze Ofobuike, during a one-day step-down training on strengthening the capacity of stakeholders on the Whistleblowing Policy, held at the Council Secretariat conference hall, Ekwulobia warned them to be sure of what they are blowing the whistle on.

While describing the policy as a welcome development, Dr Ofobuike, charged the participating stakeholders to be bold enough to expose any corrupt public officeholders, contractors, politicians, community president generals and other elective officers of any wrongdoing in their various Constituencies.

He informed the stakeholders that governor Soludo, is interested in the programme in the state, being a true Democrat.

In his address, the organiser and Coordinator of the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Dr Chidi Onuma, said AFRICMIL in collaboration with International Peace and Civil Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), said the aim of the programme was to train people at the rural areas who would volunteer and be bold enough to monitor constituency and government projects and report any wrongdoing, if any, to anti-graft agencies; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), African Centre For Media and Information Literacy ( AFRICMIL), or the State designated anti-graft agency for prompt action.

Dr Onuma, who was represented at the training, by the Senior Programme Officer of AFRICMIL, Mr Godwin Onyeacholem, told the trained whistleblowers that their reports should be true, factual and with evidence to back them up, to avoid reprisal.

He said they can equally report anonymously via www.partnersunited.org

He also assured them of 100 percent protection from AFRICMIL.

According to Onyeacholem, AFRICMIL-African Centre For Media and Information Literacy is a non-governmental organisation focusing on media, information research, advocacy and training.

It aims at promoting media and information Literacy as a key component in the enhancement of democracy and good governance, and the promotion of accountability and an orderly society.

“Since 2017, AFRICMIL, has been working on a project tagged Corruption Anonymous (CORA), which is supported by The John D. and Catherine T. MacAthur Foundation. The project is designed to build public confidence and support for the whistleblowing policy of the government of Nigeria. And in a bid to ensure a successful implementation of the CORA project, AFRICMIL, has built strategic alliances with relevant stakeholders, like the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), a unit in Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning that is charged with the responsibility of managing the Whistleblowing Policy, the anti-corruption agencies, civil society organisations, a coalition of public interest Lawyers and of course, the media,”

The Chairman, Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET), Prince Chris Azor, who also spoke at the event, while commending governor Soludo, for providing a conducive environment for the programme, noted that a lot needed to be done in terms of the protection of whistleblowers across the country.

“People are worried that whistleblowers don’t have adequate protection, not necessarily protection in terms of their lives, but also loss of jobs.

“We need to ensure that public servants and community volunteers are given adequate protection, especially in terms of job security because if people know that they will lose their jobs, they will not be inclined to the whistle-blowing policy

“The whistle-blowing policy could be a powerful tool in the hands of Nigerians when the gaps are filled because the government cannot be everywhere.

“It is the individuals who know their communities, Local Government areas (LGAs), state and the many wrongdoings going on there. So, we empower people through information, creating a platform that they have confidence in.

“They need to know that if they report any case, their lives will be protected, their jobs will be secured and ultimately, nobody is going to punish them for the actions they have taken. And I strongly believe, it will help in creating confidence in the system,” Azor stated.

The one-day training programme with the Theme – “Community Based Organisations As Change Agents In Promoting Whistleblowing,“ attracted participants across the three Senatorial District of the State.

The Whistle-blowing Policy was introduced in 2016 by the Nigerian Government, aimed at increasing exposure of financial crimes; supporting the fight against financial crimes and corruption; improving the level of citizens’ confidence in public entities, enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

PIAK