From Matthew Ogune Abuja
Stakeholders working to reduce corruption in the country has urged Ministry Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government to design a whistleblowing policy in line with the global best practice as a key step in prioritizing good corporate governance in their offices.
They made this call on Tuesday in Abuja during a training workshop on Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblowing) for MDAs organised by the Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI), the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and the African Center for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL).
Speaking, AFRICMIL Coordinator, Dr. Chido Onumah expressed displeasure over the lack of commitment by public institutions and MDAs towards improving the process of seeing something and saying something in their various institutions.
“In the public sector today, many workers who come across corruption and other acts of illegality and report them to the authorities are subjected to all kinds of active and passive punishments by those they reported these illegal practices to, in connivance with the perpetrators of the wrongdoing.
“From suspension without pay, through other forms of horrible reprisals in between, to outright dismissal. These indignities are what courageous Nigerian workers face almost on a daily basis for discharging the patriotic duty of making disclosures in the public interest.
“This negative attitude towards governance is unhelpful. It needs to change. That is the essence of today’s programme. It is to encourage public institutions to appreciate the good in the whistleblowing policy and whistleblowing itself as the best and most potent medium for entrenching transparency and accountability in the public sector.
“To that end, all government institutions are hereby enjoined to design a whistleblowing policy in line with the global best practice as a key step in prioritizing good corporate governance in their offices.
“But all whistleblowing policies or procedures should be clear, simple, and easily understood. This engagement will be as interactive. So let us meet minds here on how we can improve governance through this process.”
On his part, Director-General of BPSR, Dasuki Arabi who labelled accountability as the bedrock of good governance, explained that, when public officials embrace openness in their dealings and allow scrutiny of their actions, it will enhance service delivery and promotes public confidence in government institutions.
“Public interest disclosure is a crucial element in the fight against corruption and maladministration. It empowers public servants and citizens alike to expose unethical practices and mismanagement without fear of reprisal.
“As such, fostering a safe and enabling environment for whistleblowers, backed by appropriate legal frameworks, is imperative.”
According to him, the workshop will not only reinforce the role of public officers in ensuring transparency but also inspire new ideas and best practices for sustaining an accountable governance system.
