The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) In collaboration with the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) and Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR) held a Capacity Development Workshop on Public Interest Disclosure and Accountability in Ministries, Departments and Agenciesof government.
The one-day workshop, which was held at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters, Abuja, was aimed at promoting corporate governance, compliance with rules and regulations, and accountability in public institutions.
In his opening remarks, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr Dasuki Arabi, said that the workshop was meant to empower citizens to ensure openess and promote a culture of accountability in governance. He also stated that the BPSR has over the years played a vital role in upholding accountability and freedom of expression irrespective of the challenges. He emphasized that the workshop will help to deepen our understanding and inspire ideas and best practices for sustaining an accountable system in the country.
In his welcome address, the Coordinator of AFRICMIL, Dr Chido Onumah, expressed his disappointment at the failure of the public institutions-—ministries, departments and agencies, in showing commitment to improving the culture of whistleblowing, compliance with rules and regulations, and accountability in the public sector. He stated that 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. This negative attitude towards governance, according to him, is unhelpful and needs to change.
Dr. Onumah urged all government institutions to design a whistleblowing policy in line with the global best practices as a key step in prioritizing good corporate governance in their offices.
In his presentation entitled Public Interest Disclosure and Accountability in the Public Sector, Barr. Abdul Mahmud, President, Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL), stated that the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in the country was just at 25%. He explained that the FoI Act is a solid weapon for public interest disclosure and it is quite saddening that the government and civil society members do not make use of it.
Mahmud stressed the importance of the National Assembly to look into the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act from the standpoint of the Federal Ministry of Justice as this will also help in upholding accountability in the country’s judicial system.
On the issue of whistleblowing, he stated that though whistleblowing has led to the recovery of stolen funds, its implementation is not properly grounded in a legislative framework. He, therefore, called for a quick enactment of a whistleblower protection law.
Jackie Garrick, Founder of Whistleblowers of America (WOA), in her presentation, explained that her organization focuses on whistleblowers who have gone through reprisals and how it affects their mental health. She explained the distinct meaning of whistleblowing and disclosure while also stating the propensity to whistleblow. The propensity includes but not limited to sense of ethics, courage to act, higher education levels, and expertd in their fields.
Garrick said that most whistleblowers blow the whistle not because of what they’ll get in return but because they have the courage to act and a strong moral compass and commitment to doing what is right, even if it means going against the norms or interest of their colleagues.
She also stated some decision points for disclosure which includes, checking credibility, being well informed, the safety of the supposed whistleblower, the thoughts of family members, etc. She explained that these decision points most times forms the decision of whether to blow the whistle or not.
Godwin Onyeacholem, Programme Manager, AFRICMIL, in his presentation on the policy brief on internal whistleblowing for MDAs, stated that corruption cannot be fought successfully neither can accountability be meaningfully achieved without the insiders. He explained this by saying that the insiders, that is, the individuals within an organization or an institution have unique access to information, knowledge and resources that can help expose and combat corrupt practices, therefore playing a crucial role in fighting corruption and achieving accountability.
He noted that the major anti corruption agencies in Nigeria do not have in-house whistleblower policy. He urged them to set up whistleblower deskd and ensure it is accessible to their workers.
Part of Onyeacholem’s recommendation for an ideal in-house whistleblowing processes in MDAs include: Training workers on how to blow the whistle, making it clear that Non Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) do not supersede any whistleblower policy, protection of whistleblowers from any form of punishment while investigation is still ongoing, training workers on how to use the policy, disciplinary actions for any retaliation against the whistleblower. He ended his presentation stating that the issue of whistleblowing is a human rights issue as it involves truth, freedom of expression, and democracy.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Arabi commended the anti corruption agencies, and the pubic service of Nigeria for their role in fighting corruption in the last 25 years.
He also urged the citizens to put the country first before personal gains while reminding everyone that corruption is beyond public service but also an individual fight.
