FG Launches Nationwide Whistleblowing Sensitization Drive to Fight Corruption

FG Launches Nationwide Whistleblowing Sensitization Drive to Fight Corruption

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

The Federal Government has kicked off a nationwide sensitization programme to strengthen Nigeria’s Whistleblowing Policy, in a bid to deepen transparency, accountability, and good governance in public resource management.

The two-day event, organized by the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), held in Lagos from September 17–18, brought together government officials, anti-corruption agencies, and private sector representatives.

Declaring the event open, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the Whistleblowing Policy was designed “to encourage the reporting of suspicious activities or wrongdoing related to financial crimes, mismanagement of public funds, or other illicit activities within the public or private sectors.”

Represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary Special Duties of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omenka Omachi, the Minister outlined the programme’s objectives: educating stakeholders on the policy’s framework, highlighting whistleblowing as a tool for fighting corruption, and explaining procedures for reporting infractions while ensuring protection for whistleblowers.

“The programme commenced in Lagos, a major commercial hub with a consistent sound financial management system. We urge all stakeholders to actively enforce compliance with the policy, and we reaffirm the Government’s commitment to protecting whistleblowers,”  Omachi added.

In his keynote address, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Taxation, Abdul-kabir Opeyemi Ogunbo, called for the review of the Whistleblowers Protection Bill to further institutionalize the policy and safeguard those who expose wrongdoing. He stressed that whistleblowers are entitled to confidentiality and protection against retaliation.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also urged Lagos residents to utilize the initiative to report infractions, describing it as vital for protecting the state’s financial system and integrity.

The event featured interactive sessions and lecture presentations with key stakeholders, including representatives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Lydia Shehu Jafiya,

reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to sustaining the initiative, highlighting the significant economic recovery already achieved through its framework. Represented by Oludare John, Deputy Director of PICA, she thanked all stakeholders for their support in realizing the policy’s objectives.

In separate remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Auditor General of the Federation lauded the whistleblowing initiative, calling for active participation from all sectors as a critical tool in the fight against corruption.

The sensitization programme marks a key milestone in the Federal Government’s ongoing effort to promote transparency, strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms, and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s financial governance.