The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reiterated its dedication to enforcing the Whistleblower Protection Law in Nigeria.
n a statement issued during a sub-regional conference on Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection in West Africa, held on November 26, 2024, at the EFCC Academy in Karu, Abuja, the EFCC’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, emphasized the Commission’s unwavering commitment to tackling corruption through whistleblowing and protecting those who come forward with vital information.
EFCC Urges Public to Support Anti-Corruption Efforts
The conference, which focused on the theme “Reducing Corruption in West Africa: The Importance of Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection Legislation,” highlighted the critical role of whistleblowers in fighting corruption across the region. Mr. Olukoyede, who was represented by the EFCC’s Chief of Staff, Commander Michael Nzekwe, called on Nigerians to actively participate in the nation’s fight against corruption by reporting any illegal activities to the EFCC.
While encouraging citizens to blow the whistle on corrupt practices, Olukoyede stressed that patriotism and a commitment to the country’s anti-corruption initiatives should be the primary motivators, rather than financial rewards. “The financial incentives shouldn’t be your primary motivation; patriotism and the need to support EFCC’s anti-corruption fight should be your driving force,” he said.
Call for Legislative Action and Regional Cooperation
In his address, Olukoyede also appealed to civil society organizations to intensify advocacy efforts to pass a comprehensive Whistleblower Protection Law. He highlighted the importance of creating an environment where whistleblowers feel secure and are protected from retaliation, which would, in turn, encourage more citizens to come forward with valuable information on corruption.
Dr. Chido Onumah, the Coordinator of the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), lamented the slow progress in implementing whistleblower protection laws across West Africa. He noted that only Ghana has passed such a law, and he urged the rest of the ECOWAS member states to follow suit. “This is not a good advertisement for ECOWAS, a region consistently rated poorly on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index,” he remarked.
Dr. Onumah also linked the lack of accountability and transparency in the management of public resources to widespread poverty in West Africa. He argued that adopting whistleblowing as a tool to expose corruption would help improve governance and reduce poverty in the region.
Princess Chifiero, a representative from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted the importance of Whistleblower Protection Laws as outlined in the United Nations Convention against Corruption. She stressed that protecting individuals who report corruption is vital for institutional accountability and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Hafsat Abubakar Bakari, CEO of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), also called for a global approach to combating corruption, emphasizing that anti-corruption efforts should not be confined to individual countries but should involve global cooperation and unified systems that stand against corruption worldwide.
Representatives from other anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), also voiced their support for the implementation of the Whistleblower Protection Law.
The conference concluded with a call for collective action from ECOWAS governments, civil society organizations, and citizens to push for the enactment of Whistleblower Protection Laws across the region. The resolution emphasized the need for dedicated efforts to safeguard whistleblowers and strengthen anti-corruption frameworks.
For more information, visit www.efcc.gov.ng.
