By Doyin Ojosipe
The John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (MAF), said it has partnered with three other foundations to set up a civic defence funds to assist journalists, civil society and private sector actors that are facing reprisals or attacks emanating from blowing the whistle or speaking out against corruption.
This was revealed at a one-day media training organised by the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) in collaboration with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG) in Abuja.
In a goodwill message, Dayo Olaide, country deputy director at MAF said the civic defence funds were put in place by the foundation and partners as a means of providing protection for embattled journalists and citizens who report wrongdoing.
He encouraged citizens who are suffering as a result of blowing the whistle to feel free to assess the funds.
Addressing the participants, Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL who was represented by Snr Program Officer, Godwin Onyeacholem said, the training was necessary in order to provide support for whistle blowers facing reprisals.
He said in as much as the training was meant to support whistleblowers, it was also intended to benefit the journalists who by virtue of their profession are whistleblowers.
“AFRICMIL believes that by the nature of their job, journalists are also whistle-blowers and should have as much stake as other agencies in not only entrenching the culture of speaking up against wrongdoing, but also in the practice of standing up for anyone facing reprisals,” he said.
Onyeacholem further revealed that AFRICMIL would also organise a training for public interest lawyers in Lagos and Abuja who will offer pro bono services for whistleblowers facing victimization.
Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Deputy editor of Daily Trust who is also AFRICMIL’s consultant, said Nigerian journalists ought to make deliberate efforts in encouraging Nigerians to expose corruption by virtue of the provisions of section 24 of the Nigerian constitution which mandates citizens to render assistance to law enforcement agencies in the performance of their duties.
He said “a lot of people always want to blame the media for so many things, that the media has been silent or that the media has been bought but they ought to understand that media only works with the information at their disposal. This is laughable because we in the media only work with the information you give us. That is why it is very important to always speak out.”
Speaking as a resource person on whistleblowing and International Best Practices, Abdulaziz urged journalists to always ensure their report was in the best interest of the public.
In her presentation on Reporting Whistleblowing and Safety of Whistleblowers: The Role of Journalists, Chizoba Ogbeche, Deputy Editor of Blueprint Newspaper advised the Journalists to imbibe the culture of checking and cross checking their facts while dealing with whistle-blowers as some of them could mischievously give out false information that may invariably land a journalist in trouble.
According to her, journalists are whistleblowers generally but they often depend on other whistleblowers. She said journalists should know that while protecting their sources, they should also ensure to protect themselves by having an agreement with their sources.
On her part, Adaobi Obiabunmuo, Program Manager of PRIMORG said the journalists could reach out to Civil Society Organisations on behalf of the whistleblowers who are facing reprisals since they could not possibly provide legal services.
