Isiyaku Ahmed
As the world commemorates World Whistleblowers Day on June 23, it is timely to reflect on the role of whistleblowers in building transparent, accountable, and ethical societies.
Across the globe, these brave individuals often risk their careers, and sometimes their lives, to expose corruption, abuse of office, and other malpractices that undermine public trust.
Nigeria, like many nations, has made notable strides in developing legal frameworks to safeguard whistleblowers. However, there is still work to be done to fully protect and empower them.
Legal Framework and Protections
In Nigeria, the primary legal framework for whistleblower protection is the Federal Ministry of Finance Whistleblower Policy, launched in December 2016.
Although it is a policy rather than a formal act of the National Assembly, it has nonetheless been instrumental in exposing financial crimes and recovering looted funds.
The policy encourages individuals to report fraud, bribery, mismanagement of public funds, and other unethical conduct through secure and confidential channels.
To complement this, the Whistleblower Protection Bill, first introduced in the National Assembly in 2019, aims to provide a more robust and enforceable legal foundation.
In early 2025, the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) both publicly urged the National Assembly to fast-track the bill, highlighting the urgent need for legal protection for whistleblowers.
The bill, if passed into law, would guarantee whistleblowers legal immunity, protect them from workplace retaliation, and establish clear procedures for reporting and investigations.
It also proposes the establishment of an independent agency to handle whistleblower complaints and administer compensation.
Role of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act
The Freedom of Information Act (2011) also plays a supportive role in encouraging transparency and whistleblowing. While it does not directly offer protection to whistleblowers, certain provisions, such as Section 14 and Section 15, allow for the protection of individuals’ identities in sensitive disclosures.
These sections deal with the exemption of information that may endanger the life or safety of any person and the protection of personal privacy.
In practice, this means that whistleblowers who provide information under the FOI Act may benefit from confidentiality protections.
Furthermore, the FOI Act empowers citizens, including whistleblowers, with the right to access public records without demonstrating a specific interest, an essential tool for gathering evidence in cases of public-sector corruption or abuse.
Compensation and Encouragement
A key incentive built into Nigeria’s whistleblower policy is financial compensation.
Whistleblowers whose disclosures lead to the successful recovery of stolen public funds are entitled to between 2.5% and 5% of the recovered amount. This provision has not only served as a motivator but also reflects a recognition of the personal risks whistleblowers face.
However, the process of compensating whistleblowers has sometimes been mired in delays and a lack of transparency.
For Nigeria’s whistleblower framework to be credible, it is important that such rewards are processed fairly and promptly, and that adequate psychosocial and legal support is provided to whistleblowers and their families.
Raising Awareness and Strengthening Institutions
Despite these frameworks, many Nigerians remain unaware of their rights under the whistleblower policy or how to report misconduct safely.
Civil society organizations, the media, and relevant government agencies must do more to raise awareness about existing protections and reporting mechanisms.
Strengthening whistleblower education in schools, workplaces, and within the public service can help normalize ethical behavior and reduce the stigma attached to “speaking out.”
Additionally, there is a growing need to formalize and expand the whistleblower framework through national legislation.
A well-enforced Whistleblower Protection Act, with clearly defined protections against retaliation, confidentiality measures, and judicial oversight, will go a long way in institutionalizing integrity across all levels of governance.
As we mark World Whistleblowers Day, let us honour the courage of those who stand up against wrongdoing, often at great personal cost.
Let us also commit to building a society where truth-tellers are protected, celebrated, and empowered, not punished.
A nation that protects its whistleblowers is serious about justice, accountability, and sustainable development.
The time to act is now. Nigeria must strengthen its legal shield for whistleblowers, because integrity, once compromised, costs us all.
