Experts task government on better whistle-blowing policy

The Federal Government has been urged to improve the nation’s whistle-blowing policy by exploring modern techniques like encryption, Tor-SecureDrop, Global leaks among others to strengthen the anti-graft agencies and establish proper accountability structure.

The counsel, which comes on the heels of payment of N375 million to some whistle blowers recently, has become necessary, in the view of the experts, to encourage Nigerians in an inclusive anti-graft fight nationwide.

During the well-attended 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Young Men’s Christian Association of Lagos (YMCA) at the weekend in Lagos, the guest speaker and Principal Assistant Registrar, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Il-Ife, Osun State, Adedutan Segun-Olasanmi, said the initiative was apposite with the current crusade of government if only it could be properly managed and implemented.

Speaking on the theme, “Whistle blowing in Nigeria, improving on the policy for better results,” the university administrator noted that the concept has recorded several milestones in the face of perverse corruption in the land.

She, however, cautioned against provision of false information in a bid to grab the handsome reward for self-enrichment.

Segun-Olasanmi canvassed strict sanctions to check unpatriotic acts like sidelining due to the weak transparency and accountability structures in the country.

The YMCA president, Dr. Chris Ogunbanjo, pointed out that the reward was an encouragement because if people know they can get incentives for their efforts, they would summon courage to give out beneficial information to aid the fight against corruption.

“Whistle blowing has been a good thing for the country, as the achievements made so far from recovered money are encouraging,” he added.

Commending the Federal Government and active agencies on the policy, he appealed for its replication in other spheres of life.

“If people from all spheres in the country could come out to blow the whistle, then more results would be achieved,” he enthused.