The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, (AFRICMIL) has called on Community Based Organizations (CBOs), to advocate the need to tackle corruption at the grassroots through whistleblowing. This was emphasized in a one-day town hall meeting held in Ilorin on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
The event which was organized by AFRICMIL, with the support of the MacArthur Foundation focused on “The Role of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in Entrenching Whistleblowing at The Grassroots”.
Addressing the Participants, AFRICMIL Coordinator, Dr Chido Onumah who was represented by the Programs Manager, Kola Ogunbiyi, said the mission was to make the CBOs a formidable collaborator in dealing with the culture of silence in the face of endemic corruption.
In his words, “We are both morally and legally bound as citizens not to keep silent or acquiesce to any act of corruption or wrongdoing whenever we see one
“Combating corruption through early detection and exposure of mismanagement of public funds, bribery, fraud, theft of public funds and other illicit acts is an effective strategy in the fight against corruption. Whistleblowing has proven to be the most direct method of exposing corrupt acts”, he added.
In a goodwill message via zoom, Africa Director, MacArthur Foundation, Dr Kole Shettima, said corruption and lack of accountability are major challenges in the country.
Commending AFRICMIL for the initiative, he said whistleblowing is a critical tool that allows citizens’ voices to be heard in eradicating corruption in the country. He noted that it was important to monitor those in public offices and also ensure that Government delivers the dividends of democracy. He said it was also crucial to understand the downside of whistleblowing and know how to take precautions to avoid dangerous situations.
State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Segun Adeyemi, who was also present at the meeting explained that whistleblowing is a major government policy intended to fight corruption and promote good governance.
He said, “If the grassroots cannot understand what whistleblowing is, they might not be able to participate, and this means that the desired result will not be achieved”.
He revealed that the NOA has initiated a “charter for development” as a means of enlightening the public while promoting whistleblowing.
He said the Charter of Development was being carried out, through the creation of a short playlet or drama that is usually held each time a program is organized at the state, local or national level used as a means to enlighten the public.
Similarly, the Chairman, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, represented by Mohammed Baba, a Director at the Commission said the organization has been creating awareness around the whistleblowing policy by organizing workshops and seminars as well as a television program.
He also commended MacArthur Foundation and AFRICMIL cum the National Orientation Agency (NOA), for their efforts in sensitizing the public at the grassroots.
However, the Chairman, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdullahi Bawa, represented by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah, said despite the progress made through whistleblowing, Nigerians seem to have lost interest in the policy
He said there was a need to reawaken the importance of whistleblowing among Nigerians in order to improve intelligence gathering for law enforcement agencies.
In the same vein, some participants at the event expressed a lack of confidence in the policy over what they termed as betrayals by some of the agencies involved in enforcing the policy.
One of them, who simply identified himself as Yusuf Lawal alleged that some concerned agencies sell whistleblowers out while also working as informants to corrupt individuals. according to him, this discredits the policy as well as sets whistleblowers in harm’s way.
Another participant who identified himself as Ayuba said the issue of addressing corruption has become a big joke such that convicted corrupt individuals are given some form of pardon after few months in jail only to stage a comeback and campaign and even win political positions. He said the actions of the Federal Government and political actors really makes it tough to believe in the anti-graft war.
