Yisa Usman vs JAMB: AFRICMIL Demands Stronger Whistleblower Protection

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has renewed its call for stronger legal protection for whistleblowers, saying the case involving former Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) official, Yisa Usman, highlights the urgent need to strengthen safeguards for public officers who expose wrongdoing.

The organisation made the call in a statement on Wednesday signed by its Programme Manager, Godwin Onyeacholem, following the dismissal of Usman’s suit against JAMB by the National Industrial Court.

AFRICMIL said although Usman had indicated his intention to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, the issues raised by the case go far beyond an employment dispute and touch on whistleblower protection, due process, labour justice, disability rights and institutional accountability.

It noted that Usman, a person living with disability, had served for more than two decades in public financial management, procurement and administration before his dismissal from JAMB in July 2023 after making what it described as public-interest disclosures on alleged financial, procurement and governance irregularities within the examination body.

“Although the whistleblower has indicated his intention to challenge the judgment through the appellate process, the biggest concerns for us in this matter are the protection of whistleblowers, adherence to due process in disciplinary proceedings, disability rights, labour justice, and institutional accountability,” the organisation said.

AFRICMIL stated that while it respected the independence of the judiciary, it believed the appellate court would provide further legal clarity on the important questions raised by the case.

According to the organisation, Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive can only succeed if citizens and public servants who make lawful disclosures are confident that they will be protected from retaliation.

It argued that the dismissal of the suit should prompt broader national reflection on the treatment of whistleblowers, adding that disciplinary proceedings in public institutions must always comply with the Public Service Rules and constitutional guarantees of fair hearing.

The organisation also drew attention to Usman’s international recognition as the Global First Runner-up for the 2026 Ellsberg Whistleblower Award in Germany, saying the honour underscored the public significance of his disclosures, although it did not determine the merits of his employment dispute.

AFRICMIL further expressed concern that insufficient consideration was given to the protections available under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, describing the issue as one with wider implications for equal access to justice.

The group maintained that public institutions have the right to enforce discipline but insisted that such processes must be transparent, impartial and carried out strictly in accordance with the law.

It called on the National Assembly to enact comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation to shield individuals from retaliation, while urging the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to strengthen compliance with the Public Service Rules during disciplinary proceedings.

AFRICMIL also appealed to the Federal Government, anti-corruption agencies, professional bodies and civil society organisations to reinforce mechanisms that encourage public-interest disclosures while guaranteeing fairness, due process and protection for whistleblowers.

The organisation said the appeal in the Yisa Usman case presents an opportunity to clarify key legal questions relating to whistleblowing, public service employment and procedural safeguards, adding that the outcome could strengthen transparency, accountability and public confidence in Nigeria’s institutions.