African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), in collaboration with International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), held a meeting to assess the impact of the step-down training on whistleblowing policy and whistleblowing protection for CBOs on Thursday 13, July 2023 in Awka, Anambra State.
The Coordinator African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Dr Chido Onumah, represented by Nkechi Ugwu, Senior Program Officer, M&E, in his welcome remark, said the meeting was to review the progress made so far in ensuring that citizens report corruption, fraud and other forms of wrongdoing that are harmful to the interest of various communities in the state.
According to him, the meeting is fundamentally concerned with harnessing the impact of the step-down training received by the community-based organizations (CBOs) in September last year to promote transparency and accountability in their communities. He explained that AFRCMIL would as much as possible want to know the result of the CBOs’ engagement in applying the whistleblowing strategy as an anticorruption tool in monitoring community projects.
The Director, Public Enlightenment, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Inalegwu Shaibu, in his goodwill message, said the whistleblower policy offers protection for individuals to enable them to expose corrupt practices in the country. He appealed to citizens to submit tips financial-related matters and other wrongdoing in their various communities.
The Director National Orientation Agency (NOA), Joseph Uchendu, in his goodwill message, described a whistleblower as an informant who voluntarily discloses to the government and other responsible commissions, irregularities and corrupt practices that are detrimental to the life and existence of common citizens. He assured that the NOA will continue to partner with all CBOs and representative institutions towards curbing corruption in Nigeria.
The commissioner, Budget and Economic Planning, Chiamaka Nnake, represented by Ezechi Chioma, affirmed that the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Soludo, was ready to partner with sister agencies to make Anambra State a functional and prosperous state.. She appealed to participants to take accountability for the project in their communities and ensure that such projects are actualised.
She noted that community whistleblower policy is an important tool for assisting the local vigilantes in curbing activities of criminals in the communities. She commended the leader of the CBOs and demanded total commitment and dedication to ensure a corrupt-free society.
The executive chairman, IPCRC, Comrade Chris Azor, lamented the effect of corruption in society. According to him, citizens have to hold the government accountable and demand transparency in governance. He appealed to participants to take accountability for the projects in their communities seriously and ensure that projects are completed appropriately.
The project officer, M&E, Nkechi Ugwu, expressed optimism that the enactment of a whistleblowing protection law would guarantee protection whistleblowers and reduce corrupt practices in the both public and private sector. She encouraged the participants to ensure maximum impact for the step-down training.
